Tokyo Olympics: China on track to send record number of athletes to Covid-hit Games
- Officials confirm 318 athletes – in 224 events for 30 disciplines – but team expected to surpass 400 after qualifiers finish
- Largest Chinese presence was 416 at Rio 2016 but only across 210 events and 26 disciplines
China is expected to send more than 400 athletes to the Tokyo Olympic Games, Chinese state media reported on Tuesday, on track to renew a record set at Rio 2016 despite a coronavirus pandemic that has already delayed the Games by a year.
The Games are set to open on July 23 in the face of worries that an influx of tens of thousands of people from around the world could trigger another wave of infections.
China has already secured 318 spots in 224 events for 30 disciplines, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
At Rio 2016, China sent a record 416 athletes in 26 disciplines and 210 events – its biggest for an overseas Olympic Games.
China hopes to contend for gold in diving, table tennis, shooting, gymnastics and weightlifting, with medals also expected in badminton, taekwondo, sailing, rowing, karate, women’s boxing, women’s volleyball, swimming and track and field, according to Xinhua.