Taiwan Today

Madame Chiang Kai-shek sped the 107-member Chinese team on its way to the fifth Asian Games in Bangkok last December with presentation of the national flag to General Yang Sen, the team leader (top). Madame Chiang is honorary chairman of the Republic of China's Olympic Committee. The Chinese athletes did not disappoint their sponsor nor countrymen. Entering 12 events, they captured 5 gold, 4 silver, and 10 bronze medals. Wu Tao-yuan alone wrapped up three gold medals with his great sharpshooting. He won the individual air rifle, three-position small-bore, and standard rifle competitions. Other winners were Wu Ah-ming in the decathlon and Miss Chi Cheng in the broad jump. Chinese were especially proud of the decathlon performance, because C. K. Yang, also from Taiwan, holds the world record in that event. Wu is expected to be a decathlon contender and Miss Chi a pentathlon threat in the Olympic Games at Mexico City next year.

 

 

Four thousand Thai college students formed the Chinese characters for Chung Hua Min Kuo (Republic of China) and the ancient Chinese dragon symbol in Bangkok National Stadium (top). South Korea, which will host the 1970 Games, led the way, followed by the Chinese team. Then the Chinese stars swung into action: (center left) Wu Tao-yuan shooting; (center right) Wu Ah-ming hurdling; below, Chi Cheng hurdling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Asian Games began with a parade of the teams (top). South Korea, which will host the 1970 Games, led the way, followed by the Chinese team. (bottom) Wu vaulting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wu Ah-ming is the new "Iron Man of Asia", successor to world champion C. K. Yang. In seven years he has raised his score in the grueling decathlon from 4,716 to 7,003 points. Like Yang, he is from one of Taiwan's aborigine tribes. Despite his age of 28, he will be a favorite in the Olympics. Yang also was late in reaching top form.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taiwan has "Iron Girls" as well as men. The best known is Miss Chi Cheng, a world record hurdler and broad jumper (top). She is being coached in the United States for a gold medal try in the Olympic pentathlon. In case she misses, China has a new pentathlon star, Yeh Chui-mei (bottom).

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wu's did all right at Bangkok. Seven members of the Chinese team had that family name. Three of them won 4 total of four gold and two bronze medals, paced by Wu Tao-yuan's marksmanship (top). The Wu's were honored by Thailand kinsmen (bottom). Wu clan tablets are seen in the background.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free China's athletes were warmly received in Thailand, which has one of the largest overseas Chinese populations in Southeast Asia. Applause was especially enthusiastic for: (top) Wu Ah-ming, the decathlon winner, and his teammate, Chen Chuan-shou, who finished fourth with 6,425 points; (bottom right) sharpshooter Wu Tao-yuan, who shook hands with his defeated rivals; (bottom) T. Y. Wu with his three gold medals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Broad jump winner and pentathlon star Chi Cheng warming up (left) and Wu Ah-ming saluting crowd after receiving his decathlon medal (right). In unofficial Games scoring, Republic of China was 8th among 18 nations.

 

 

 

 

 

President Chiang Kai-shek received the Republic of China's gold medal winners (top) and bade them prepare for championship performances at the Mexico City Olympics. Waiting to welcome decathlon winner Wu Ah-ming at Taipei International Airport (bottom) were his mother and girl friend, Chien Su-o, who is also an athlete. Marriage must wait until after Mexico Olympics.