Keeper of the flame
As the 2018 Asian Games welcome the continent’s best athletes, many competitors from China have arrived in the Indonesian capital ready to display their country’s sporting prowess.
Ahead of the Games’ opening ceremony on Saturday in Jakarta, the Chinese delegation held a flag-raising ceremony to demonstrate its determination to top the medals’ table once again.
A total of 12 representatives, including Chinese equestrian standout Hua Tian and nine officials of the Chinese delegation, participated in the ceremony at Jakarta’s athletes’ village on Thursday morning.
Chinese gymnast Xiao Ruoteng said that his team’s preparatory work has been great so far, and the quality of the venues and facilities is also ideal. After training sessions in Jakarta, Xiao said he and his team are ready to go for gold.
However, not all preparations have been as smooth.
“Last night was the first time I rode my horse, so we haven’t trained for eight days due to travel difficulties,” said Hua.
China is fielding a strong delegation of 845 athletes, including 19 Olympic champions, to the quadrennial multisport event held in the Indonesian capital from Saturday until Sept 2.
The Chinese delegation, which also includes 38 foreign coaches from 15 countries in 22 events, will compete in 38 sports out of 40 on offer at the 18th Asian Games. The only two sports China won’t compete in this time are kabaddi, a contact sport originating in India, and weightlifting.
Among all the Chinese athletes in the delegation, 631 will be making their international debut.
To prepare for the 2020 Summer Games in Japan, Chinese sports officials have selected younger athletes, with the most junior being 13-yearold female swimmer Wang Yichun. Even for some of China’s traditional strengths like table tennis, younger players have been chosen.
In terms of the table tennis squad, renowned athletes Ma Long, Xu Xin and Ding Ning were all conspicuously absent from the list when the Chinese squad was named. None of the 10-strong roster has played at an Olympics, and only three have Asian Games experience. China’s table tennis hopes at the Asian Games, therefore, rest on young shoulders — specifically 21-year-old male Fan Zhendong and 23-yearold female Zhu Yuling.