CREATE TABLE table_203_436 (id DECIMAL, "year" DECIMAL, "competition" TEXT, "venue" TEXT, "position" TEXT, "notes" TEXT)

in the 2009 asian championships , china took 3rd . what place did china take in the previous asian championships ?
SELECT "position" FROM table_203_436 WHERE "competition" = 'asian championships' AND "year" < 2009
SELECT "position" FROM "table_203_436" WHERE "competition" = 'asian championships' AND "year" < 2009