OLYMPIC GAMES – China wants to reverse downward trend after 2008 Olympics

After China’s brilliant participation in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, in which it dominated the medal table, the country has been falling in subsequent appointments, a trend that the Asian power wants to reverse in Tokyo.

Before the coronavirus pandemic (and therefore before the Tokyo Games were postponed for a year), the state news agency Xinhua pointed out that the goal of the Chinese Olympic team was to grow compared to the JJ. OO. of Rio 2016, in which the Asian country fell from second place in the medal table obtained in London 2012 to third.

However, since that forecast of objectives, the sanction for doping imposed on the star swimmer of the Chinese, Sun Yang, has become known, which will make the record holder miss the appointment.

Another of the absences will be Ye Shiwen, the swimmer who dominated in London 2012 with only 16 years, who has been left out of the Olympic team this time, although swimming is not one of the sports in which China is the dominant power.

Nor will the men’s basketball team participate, which did not qualify for the Games for the first time in 37 years, prolonging the bad moment they certified in the 2019 basketball world championship, held in China, when the hosts failed to pass the group stage.

POWER IN TABLE AND BADMINTON TENNIS

China’s strengths are above all table tennis and badminton, and not much is expected to change there in the medal table, while its prowess in trampoline jumping, weightlifting, gymnastics and shooting will also be present.

Those six sports have served China to obtain 74 percent of the Olympic gold medals achieved by the Asian country since the Los Angeles event in 1984.

In fact, in shooting, the veteran Pang Wei – who already won gold in Beijing 2008 in the 10-meter air pistol discipline, which made him the first Chinese to climb to the top of an Olympic podium in that sport. – will represent his country for the fourth time.

In badminton, Chen Long will try to defend his Olympic crown in men’s singles in what will be his third Games, which is in contrast to what will be the women’s singles debut of Chen Yufei, or of Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong in mixed doubles. .

In table tennis, the president of the Chinese federation, Liu Guoliang, recently expressed “the ability and confidence” of the team that will send to Tokyo “to fight for the five golds” at stake in that sport, although he admitted that “also there are challenges and risks, particularly considering that the pace and form of preparedness has been very different during the pandemic. “

Among the sports in which China also expects medals – albeit from other metals – are taekwondo, sailing, rowing, karate, women’s boxing and volleyball, swimming and athletics, according to Xinhua.

China led the Games medal table for the first time at the Beijing 2008 edition, with 48 golds and a total of 100 medals, while it fell to second place in London 2012 (38 and 91) and third in Rio 2016 ( 26 golds and 70 medals).

Trampoline jumping, weightlifting and gymnastics are the three sports that have given his team the most success.