The 20th Asian Games opened yesterday in Nagoya, Japan. Around 11,000 athletes from 45 Asian countries and regions will compete in 469 events across 43 sports.

For this edition of the Asian Games, China sent a delegation of 1,274 members, including 815 athletes (404 female and 411 male). They will take part in traditional strong suits such as swimming, diving, table tennis, badminton and athletics, as well as emerging disciplines including breaking, esports and virtual taekwondo.  

Renowned female boxer Wu Yu and men’s basketball guard Hu Mingxuan will serve as flag-bearers for China at the opening ceremony.

A total of 97 athletes, 22 coaches and seven staff members from Jiangsu have been selected for the Chinese delegation. They will compete in over 70 events across 29 sports and 33 disciplines. Among these athletes, 32 are Asian Games veterans. Zhang Yufei (swimming) and Chen Keyi (women’s rugby) are making their fourth Asian Games appearance. Seven athletes including Shi Yuqi (badminton), Yu Yuantai (volleyball) and Xi Kailin (softball) are attending the Games for the third time, while 65 athletes are making their Asian Games debut. The athletes average 24.5 years of age; the oldest is 35.7-year-old Sun Huadong (equestrian), and the youngest is 16.5-year-old Lyu Qinyao (swimming).  

Fifteen of Jiangsu’s athletes are world champions, among whom three are Olympic champions: Zhang Yufei (swimming), Gong Xiangyu (volleyball) and Sheng Lihao (shooting). With 10 Olympic medals (two gold, three silver and five bronze) from two Olympic Games, Zhang Yufei is China’s most decorated swimmer in Olympic history and the Most Valuable Athlete of the Hangzhou Asian Games. She will contest events including the women’s 50m butterfly, women’s 100m butterfly and mixed 4×100m medley relay at this Asian Games. Gong Xiangyu claimed Olympic gold on her debut at the Rio Olympics aged 19, making her the youngest Olympic champion in the history of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team. She has since secured numerous triumphs with the national squad. As captain of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team at this Asian Games, she and her teammates will mount a strong challenge for the title. Sheng Lihao stepped onto the Olympic arena at merely 16 and has won two Olympic gold medals to date. He will compete in the men’s 10m air rifle and mixed 10m air rifle team events at the Games.