China to send 431 athletes to Tokyo Olympics
China will send 431 athletes, including 24 Olympic champions, to the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games. These figures have been confirmed after the approval of the Chinese delegation in Beijing. The delegation comprising 298 female athletes and 133 male athletes will compete in 225 events at the Games, which are scheduled to begin in Tokyo on 23 July. Of the 24 Olympic champions in the delegation, 19 won gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, while 293 athletes would make their Olympic debuts.
This is the largest Olympic delegation ever sent by China abroad, Gao Zidan, deputy director of China’s Sports State General Administration, said in a statement. There are a total of 777 members in the delegation, including 30 foreign coaches and almost all the members have got the corona vaccine.
It is noteworthy that Chan Hongchan, 14, is the youngest participant in the delegation that will compete in the women’s diving event, while 52-year-old Li Zhenqiang of the Chinese equestrian team will be the oldest Chinese athlete to attend the Games. Women’s shotput world champion Gong Lijiao, two-time Taekwondo Olympic gold medalist Wu Jingyu, men’s shooting world champion Pang Wei, Olympic race walk champion Liu Hong and Olympic trampoline silver medalist Dong Dong are among the most experienced athletes in the delegation. All of them are on their fourth Olympic visit. China expects gold medals from traditionally strong sports such as table tennis, badminton, gymnastics, weightlifting, shooting and diving. The Chinese table tennis team, which won all four table tennis gold at the Rio Olympics, is aiming to defend its honor this year.
Liu Guoong, Secretary-General of the Chinese delegation, said the aim of the Chinese delegation is to remain competitive in the gold medal tally. Our Chinese delegation’s total number of gold medals at each Olympics since 2008 has declined and we want to stop this trend in Tokyo. We also need to ensure zero corona infection in our delegation during the entire Olympics and we will follow all the rules required by the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee.
