With four days to go before the opening of the Paris Olympic Games, Chinese athletes are waiting to reach new heights in the Olympic Games held on the banks of the Seine.
In addition to table tennis, badminton, gymnastics, weightlifting, diving, and shooting, it is also worth paying attention to whether the Chinese sports delegation can bring surprises in some other sports.
Data map: Zheng Qinwen in the game. Photo by reporter Yang Huafeng
Can tennis make a breakthrough?
Entering the Paris Olympic cycle, a new generation of Chinese tennis players has ushered in the rise. According to the list, Zhang Zhizhen, Wang Xinyu, Wang Xiyu, Zhang Shuai, Zheng Qinwen, Zheng Saisai and Yuan Yue will compete in the Olympic tennis event.
Among them, Zhang Zhizhen will participate in the men's singles event, Zheng Qinwen, Yuan Yue, Wang Xinyu and Wang Xiyu will participate in the women's singles competition, and the women's doubles will be played by Zheng Saisai/Wang Xinyu and Yuan Yue/Zhang Shuai.
At the Hangzhou Asian Games, Zhang Zhizhen and Zheng Qinwen won the men's singles and women's singles championships respectively, and the hopes of the two Chinese tennis players are now in a period of rapid growth.
Since the beginning of this year, Zhang Zhizhen has set new records for men's players in the Chinese Tennis Association many times, and his world ranking has also repeatedly set new personal highs. With an excellent performance in the first half of the year, Zhang Zhizhen played the previously concluded Wimbledon tournament as a seeded player.
Zheng Qinwen reached the women's singles final at this year's Australian Open and ranked among the top 10 in the world. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Li Na won the fourth place in the women's singles event. When it comes to the Paris Olympics, it is worth looking forward to whether Zheng Qinwen can break through history.
Data map: Luo Zongshi (blue) in the game. Photo by reporter Jia Tianyong
Taekwondo has made a comeback?
Also worth looking forward to is the Chinese taekwondo team. At the Tokyo Olympics, the Chinese taekwondo team did not perform well, and only Zhao Shuai, who was the champion of the Rio Olympics, won a bronze medal. Famous players Wu Jingyu and Zheng Shuyin did not even make it to the semifinals.
Entering the Paris Olympic cycle, the Chinese taekwondo team has been updated and practiced hard, and finally achieved a full quota of 6 participants: women's 49 kg Guo Qing, women's 57 kg Luo Zongshi, women's 67 kg Song Jie, women's 67 kg above Zhou Zeqi, men's 68 kg Liang Yushuai, and men's 80 kg above Song Zhaoxiang.
Although the six members of the Chinese taekwondo team are all newcomers to the Olympics, Luo Zongshi, Liang Yushuai and other players have already proven themselves in this cycle.
Luo Zongshi, who was born in 1998, is the world No. 1 in his class, and Liang Yushuai, a "post-00" generation, has won heavyweight honors such as the World Championships. This time at the Olympics, they are trying to go further.
Data map: Wang Lili (red) competes at the Tokyo Olympics. Photo by reporter Tomita
Can women's 3x3 basketball be "exchanged for gold"?
At the Tokyo Olympics, the Chinese three-person women's basketball team won the bronze medal. Entering the Paris cycle, in 2022, the Chinese three-person women's basketball team won another bronze medal in the World Cup and won the Asian Cup. Entering 2023, this team has experienced twists and turns, and the main force Wang Lili suffered a serious injury.
At the Paris Olympics, the Chinese three-person women's basketball team sent Wan Jiyuan, Wang Lili, Zhang Zhiting, and Chen Mingling, retaining the main team from the last Tokyo Olympics. Wang Lili returned after recovery.
The 2024 FIBA Women's 3x3 Basketball Series in Chengdu at the end of June was an important warm-up for the team before the Paris Olympics. Facing Australia, one of the favourites to win the Olympic title, the Chinese team lost by 1 point.
Regarding the upcoming Paris Olympic Games, Wang Lili said: "Through the competition and polishing in the past few years, the team has become more tacit and mature, and I hope to strive for better results in the Paris Olympics and change the color of the medals." ”
Source: China News Network