WITH 100 DAYS TO GO, CHINA’S ATHLETES READY FOR PARIS OLYMPICS ACROSS 165 EVENTS

18/04/2024 11:24 PM

BEIJING, April 18 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- With the Paris Olympic Games being less than 100 days away, China's athletes are set to compete in at least 165 events across various sports, Xinhua news agency quoted the country's General Administration of Sport (GAS).

As of Wednesday, China had secured Olympic spots in 165 events, a GAS official said.

At the recent Badminton Asia Championships, Liu Yuchen and Ou Xuanyi from China clinched a men's doubles slot for Paris 2024.

This achievement makes China the only team to have secured two Olympic spots in all five badminton categories.

The country is well-represented in its traditionally strong sports, achieving nearly full representation in weightlifting, shooting, gymnastics, diving, and table tennis.

Additionally, China's women's basketball, hockey, and water polo teams have all qualified for the Paris Olympics.

The country's women's volleyball team is set to compete for a high enough world ranking at the 2024 Women's Volleyball Nations League starting in May.

Upcoming Olympic qualification tournaments in May and June in Shanghai and Budapest for sport climbing, skateboarding, breaking, and BMX freestyle sports will provide further opportunities for China's young athletes to qualify.

However, the Paris 2024 Olympics will see a reduction of 10 gold medals compared to Tokyo 2020, influencing China's medal prospects.

The performance of Chinese athletes in several key events is also anticipated to be affected by changes in the athlete lineup.

In response, a GAS official said that all the national teams have committed to maximising the final 100 days before the Games to ensure optimal preparation as they aim for success in Paris.

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA