2006 world champion and gold favourite Xu Dongxiang of China in lightweight women's double sculls told Xinhua that she cherished every appearance on the Olympic stage?in Beijing?on Sunday.

The 25-year-old was not mentally mature in Athens four years ago, settling for a fifth place in the same event after leading for most part of the race.

Now the Zhejiang province native became more mature. "At least I know how to paddle when I lead," said she. "This is my second Olympics, I tend to cherish each race in the Games more and more."

Xu and her partner Yu Hua finished first in the heats in 6 minutes and 57.58 seconds, earning a berth in the semifinal.

On Sunday's heats, Xu said: "It's cooler today and we feel more comfortable. Before races, we have already prepared for all different weather."

Though finishing first in her heat, the result is far from good enough compared with other heats winners Kirsten van der Kolk and Marit van Eupen of the Netherlands in 6:50.90 and Berit Annika Carow and Marie-Louise Draeger of Germany in 6:51.96.

"The result is Okay since it's only a heat round," said Xu. "Only if we advanced to the next round."

"The real form can not be judged in the first round since we are not grouped with strong rivals. Once in the semis and finals when the competition becomes more stiff, and we will find who will be the strongest," added she.

Yu Hua was once part of the lightweight quadruple sculls crew that won gold at the 2006 world championships in Eton, England where Yu set a new world record of 6:23.96 with teammates Fan Xuefei, Chen Haixia and Liu Jing.

"Our performance is Okay, and we did all we can do because it's the first race we compete in. We need to move forward. Because it's the Olympics, every team is very strong but we are almost at the same level."

It's really a hard choice for Chinese rowing team to pair Xu and Yu. Only after winning the World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland did the Chinese team make the decision to put them together for the Olympic Games.

Before that, different pairings of Xu, Yu, Chen Haixia and Yan Shimin were tried in order to seek a better one.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2008)