ExplainerTokyo Paralympics: China’s athletes to watch from Jiang Yuyan to Zhao Ping

China have been the dominant force at the Paralympics since Athens 2004, the first Games where they topped the medal table. They have looked down from the summit at every Paralympics since and there is little reason to think that Tokyo will be an exception. Like their Olympians, China’s Paralympians have been in the international wilderness during the Covid-19 pandemic but as we saw at the Tokyo Olympics that was no obstacle as the Chinese challenged the US all the way to the last day of the Games. “We have a great mission this time. Despite of the pandemic, our athletes still trained hard to participate in the Paralympic Games. Our safety always comes first,” China’s Paralympics chef de mission Zhang Haidi told Xinhua on arrival in Japan. “We must take all kinds of measures to protect ourselves, and under these special conditions, we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to strive for the best results and win glory for our country.” There are 251 Chinese athletes on show in Tokyo across 20 of the 22 sports. Here is a selection of some of the ones to watch. She's done it again 14 year old Jiang Yuyan gets a WR and is crowned world champion #London2019 #ExperiencetheExtraordinary pic.twitter.com/h0PWVN24Ep — #ParaSwimming #Tokyo2020 (@Para_swimming) September 14, 2019 Jiang Yuyan – swimming Just 16, Jiang is the youngest member of China’s contingent but she is in the team on merit. Jiang won gold in the 400-metre freestyle at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London as a 14-year-old. That was impressive enough, but she beat the Rio 2016 champ and world record holder Yelyzaveta Mereshko of Ukraine to do so, smashing her world record to boot. China’s pool party is historically one of its biggest assets and several of the Rio 2016 swimming medallists are back again in Tokyo, including Zhang Li, Cheng Jiao, Song Lingling, Li Guizhi, Feng Yazhu, Xu Jialing and Lu Dong. Who are the Hong Kong athletes to watch at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics? Zhao Ping – table tennis China’s oldest athlete in Tokyo is 56, but the reigning champion is not here to make up the numbers. China is among the favourites as they look to win a third consecutive gold in the men’s team event with penholder Zhao a key player even now. Liu Yutong has reached the top of the world rankings in #ParaBadminton, at just 17 years old! Can Liu win gold at @tokyo2020? https://t.co/Op2wK2s2Re@BadmintonTalk | @BWFmedia | #Badminton | #SportWeek pic.twitter.com/O7nJyXKHZv — Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) May 30, 2021 Liu Yutong – badminton A newcomer to the Paralympic programme, badminton makes its debut in Tokyo and China is hoping that 17-year-old Liu can be among the first medallists. She won the 2017 worlds aged 13 and defended her crown in 2019. The world No 1 also won two golds at the Para Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018. How to watch the Tokyo Paralympics in Hong Kong Mao Jingdian – table tennis The women’s singles class 8 gold medallist at London 2012 and Rio 2016 is also looking for a third crown in Tokyo. Only 26, the childhood table tennis prodigy has also won titles at the Para Asian Games and the Asian Championships. BREAKING: Male Parabadminton Player of the Year 2019 Qu Zimo (CHN) - WH1#BWFWorldTourFinals2019 #BWFAwards2019 pic.twitter.com/SlQa8JM9zt — Badminton Talk (@BadmintonTalk) December 9, 2019 Qu Zimo – badminton The world No 1 is just 19 but took home the singles and doubles golds at the last world championships back in 2019, matching his takeaway from the 2018 Para Asian Games. Qu announced himself on the wheelchair badminton scene with his singles silver at the worlds in 2017. Tokyo Paralympics: the athletes and teams to watch Zhou Xia – athletics The Rio 2016 T35 double champion in the 100m and 200m is in Tokyo to defend her titles as are a host of other Chinese champions from five years ago. New challengers include Liu Cuiqing in the T11 100m, 200m and 400m; women’s T47 400m champion Li Lu; and T36 200m gold medallist Shi Yiting. Look out also for long jump champion Wen Xiaoyan. Li Yingli – athletics The winner of a relay gold medal in Rio, Li has moved from the track to the field in the intervening years and will look to display a similar golden touch in the shot put and discus. Chinese archer Zhou Jiamin and track athlete Wang Hao will be the flag-bearers for #TeamChina at the opening ceremony of the #TokyoParalympics, which will be held from August 24 to September 5, the Chinese Paralympic delegation announced on Monday. pic.twitter.com/khhQhOW7zw — China News 中国新闻网 (@Echinanews) August 23, 2021 Wang Hao – athletics One of China’s flagbearers at the Tokyo Paralympics Opening Ceremony, Wang was long jump champion of the 2017 and 2019 worlds. He will take part in the men’s T46 100m, long jump and 4x100m mixed relay in Tokyo. Zhou Jiamin – archery The other of China’s flagbearers, Zhou was one of the stars of the Rio 2016 Games where she won the Compound Bow Open Individual Championship and Mixed Doubles Championship. She also won women’s and mixed team golds at the worlds in 2019. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jiachao Wang (@triatomw) Wang Jiachao – triathlon A Paralympian since the age of 13, Wang made his debut at the Athens 2004 Games as a swimmer. After winning six medals across Athens, Beijing and London, Wang retired from swimming six years ago, but he is back for the Tokyo triathlon. Women’s sitting volleyball Led by Tang Xuemi, who lost her leg in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, the women’s team won gold in London in 2012 before losing to the US in the final four years later. They will be looking for revenge this time out.