Athletics: Qu Junxia set to retire

Monday 02 June 1997 23:02 BST

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Qu Junxia, the world 1500 metres record holder, finished 10th in the Chinese national championships in Beijing and said afterwards she will retire.

"I'm finished. Injuries and illness have bothered me a lot these years. It will be my last year on the track. Next season I'll be an assistant coach," the 27-year-old said after finishing in 4min 48.25sec, almost one minute slower than her personal best.

Other former members of the "Ma Family Army," the team once coached by Ma Junren, also showed poorly or not at all. Wang Junxia, the Olympic 5,000m champion, pulled out owing to poor health, while Liu Dong, a former world 1500m champion, was sixth in 4:29.34.

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Athletics: Qu Junxia set to retire

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