CHINA’S RISING STARS READY TO SHINE

From Justin Gatlin to Su Bingtian, Saturday’s Diamond League Shanghai meet is a veritable roll call of the world’s and China’s premier track and field stars. However, the annual extravaganza — the second stop on the IAAF’s prestigious global one-day circuit — also provides the host’s young rising stars with a chance to showcase their talent.

Their challenge has been eased somewhat by the injury withdrawals of American sprinter Christian Coleman, Jamaican Olympic 100 and 200m champion Elaine Thompson and Chinese 110m hurdler Xie Wenjun this week. Here, China Daily takes a look at the cream of the young Chinese crop hoping to get the Shanghai Stadium crowd on their feet this weekend.

Guo Zhongze

The 21-year-old furthered his reputation as one of China’s most promising 400m specialists by clocking a national-record 45.14 seconds over one lap at last year’s National Games in Tianjin — a massive progression from his disappointing debut at the 2015 world championships in Beijing, where he failed to advance from the first round. The Shanghai native will be relishing the opportunity to hit the accelerator on his own doorstep.

Huang Bokai

The pole vaulter shot to prominence by claiming gold at the 2016 Asian Indoor Championships in Doha with an Asian junior record of 5.75 meters. He failed to build on that at the Rio Olympics later that year, finishing 16th with a shorter throw. However, after undergoing surgery last year, he could well be primed to challenge for honors in Shanghai.

Shi Yuhao

At just 19 years old, long jumper Shi is one of the most exciting talents in Chinese athletics.

He set an Asian junior record of 8.30m in 2016 and improved it by a centimeter a year later to gain qualification for the 2017 worlds in London, where he finished a commendable sixth. Shi cemented his reputation as one to watch by claiming gold at this year’s Asian indoors with a world-leading jump of 8.16m.

Wu Shuijiao

The only current female Chinese hurdler to break 13 seconds over 100m, Wu clocked a personal-best 12.93 in 2013. She’s already racked up an impressive medal count, taking golds at the 2012 Asian indoors, the 2013 East Asian Games and the 2013 National Games. She regained the national title last year and will be looking to lower her long-standing PB in Shanghai.

Liu Shiying

Javelin thrower Liu’s personal best of 66.47m was set in 2017 as a thenAsian record. After bagging numerous junior titles at the world and continental levels, Liu made the grade as a senior by winning gold at the 2015 Asian championships. An eighth-place finish at the 2017 worlds in London bodes well for the future.