NOVEMBER 12, 20 DAILY PAGE 3 TEAM CHINA SUCCESS WILL BE MEASURED BY MORE THAN JUST THE MEDAL COUNT THE HOST WITH THE MOST

ADRIAN DENNIS / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Members of the Chinese delegation march during the opening ceremony of the 2008 on Aug 8, 2008.

By YU YILEI a major contender on the world’s BY THE NUMBERS — the worst result in 36 years. out how to tune up for the London CHINA DAILY sporting stage. >> CHINESE SQUAD China’s men’s basketball team Games. Th is is a big opportunity.” In the last Asiad in Doha, China salvaged some credibility with a Th ere are 35 Olympic champi- GUANGZHOU — China comes won 165 gold medals and showed top-16 fi nish at the World Cham- ons among China’s 977 athletes into the Guangzhou its readiness to challenge the US 977 pionships in Turkey in August, but in Guangzhou, including men’s as a proud host and undisputed for overall supremacy at the Beijing athletes the women’s side, which made the hurdler Liu Xiang, frontrunner, with sights fi rmly set Olympics two years later. semifi nals at the Beijing Olympics, star Liqin, badminton’s Lin on topping the medal harvest. In Guangzhou, China hopes to finished a disappointing 13th at Dan and women’s trampolinist He With a massive delegation of refine its golden harvest, striving this summer’s Worlds in the Czech Wenna. 1,454 — including 977 athletes, for improvements in such team 13 Republic. With an average age of 24, the a new record in its Asian Games events as basketball, soccer and years old - youngest “We cannot be called a strong young team will take part in 447 history — China expects to lead volleyball. sports nation without competi- events in 41 sports. the medal tally once again. “Frankly speaking, our teams in tive powers in the three ‘big balls’ Th e oldest athlete on the team is However, what the host nation the three ‘big ball’ events face an 49 events,” Liu Peng, China’s sports Mi Zhongli, 49, who will compete really cares is how to use the Guang- uphill battle here at the Guangzhou minister said. in men’s 10-pin bowling, while the zhou showcase as a springboard for games,” said Xiao Tian, deputy years old - oldest Th e Chinese sports authorities youngest is Xia Shiying, 13, a female launching its sports power to even chef-de-mission. also hope to use the Guangzhou dragon boat drummer. greater heights. “But as long as they try their best Asiad as a testing ground for the Zhang Shan, a 42-year-old “Gold medals are not the only and go all out in the competitions, 35 2012 London Olympics. To that shooter, is one special athlete who standard,” said Zhenhua, we can accept whatever their results Olympic champions end, 655 athletes without major bears watching. deputy chef-de-mission. “The are.” international experience will Zhang achieved legendary status Asian Games is a big parade of the Against that high expectation, represent China in Guangzhou, by defeating her male adversaries overall power of Chinese sports and the host’s men’s under-21 soccer 655 hoping they can shape up for to win gold in skeet at the 1992 refl ects the nation’s position in the team was humbled 3-0 by Japan athletes who will debut London. Barcelona Olympics, and she is the world. It is always very signifi cant.” in Group A on Monday in failing in international events “Th e Guangzhou Asian Games only athlete on the Chinese team China hosted its first Asian to give China a winning start at the is a mid-term examination. It is the who also competed in the 1990 Games in 1990 in Beijing, fi nishing games. crucial part of the preparation for Beijing Asiad, where she won two with 183 gold medals. Earlier this year, China’s once- 2012 London Olympics,” Cai said. gold medals. That marked a milestone in glorious women’s volleyball team “Th rough the Guangzhou event, China’s non-competitive con- China’s sports history because was denied a top-8 finish at the we can test the training aft er the tingent in Guangzhou includes 24 the nation subsequently became World Championships in Japan Beijing Olympics and then work foreign coaches.