BEIJING: China named an 815-athlete squad for this month’s Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Friday as the country aims to top the medal table for a 12th successive edition.
The delegation comprises 1,274 members, including 815 athletes competing across 38 sports and 369 events.
China has topped both the gold medal and overall medal tables at every Asian Games since 1982 and delivered a record-breaking performance on home soil in Hangzhou in 2023, winning 201 gold medals and 383 medals overall.
The squad includes 36 Olympic champions and has an average age of 24, with more than a quarter ofthe athletesaged20 oryounger.
Yu Zidi, the 13-year-old swimming sensation, will be among the Chinese contingent alongside reigning Olympic champions divers Wang Zongyuan and Chen Yuxi, as well as table tennis gold medallists Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu.
Yu became the youngest medallist in swimming world championships history last year aged just 12.
However Zheng Qinwen, the 2024 Paris Games women’s singles tennis champion, will not be involved.
Diver Wang told Xinhua the Games ‘represents the highest-level comprehensive sporting event in Asia and serves as a genuine test of our preparation’.
‘We will showcase China’s standard and strength on the regional and global stage,’ Wang added.
Team staff includes 69 overseas specialists from 24 countries and regions including, Australia, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Britain.
The Asian Games run from Sept 19 to Oct 4 and will feature athletes from 45 countries and regions.-Agencies