At the opening ceremony of the 5th Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, Shandong Para taekwondo athlete Li Yujie served as a co-flag bearer for the Chinese sports delegation, 163.com reported.
Li Yujie and Yan Panpan Lead the Chinese Delegation
On the evening of October 18, local time, the opening ceremony took place in Aichi Prefecture. Li Yujie entered the venue alongside male co-flag bearer and Para powerlifter Yan Panpan, holding the Chinese national flag. The delegation features 312 athletes overall, with Shandong province accounting for 16 of them. These competitors hail from cities including Qingdao, Jinan, Jining, and Heze.
Ten Sports and 34 Events Await Shandong Contenders
The 16 Shandong athletes are scheduled to compete across 10 major sports and 34 minor events. Their entries cover taekwondo, track and field, badminton, boccia, goalball, swimming, blind judo, cycling, powerlifting, and table tennis. For Li Yujie, her selection as flag bearer marked a distinct shift in perspective from her usual focus on individual matches. She will compete in the women’s K44 57kg taekwondo classification. “感觉这是一份对我沉甸甸的认可,” Li said, noting that carrying the flag represents the entire Chinese team rather than just herself.
Para taekwondo athlete Li Yujie and para powerlifter Yan Panpan will bear the flag for China at Sunday's opening ceremony of the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, the Chinese delegation announced on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/WqGBUPqDlr
Veteran Competitors Provide Experience Across Multiple Disciplines
Behind the flag bearers stand several seasoned veterans. Powerlifter Cui Zhe, swimmer Zhang Meng, and table tennis player Zhao Yiqing bring extensive experience from multiple Paralympic and Asian Para Games appearances. Their background provides a stabilizing anchor for the Shandong contingent amidst rigorous competition schedules. Complementing these veterans are younger athletes making their international debuts in Nagoya, including 2006-born swimmer Sun Chuanzhen—slated for the 50m, 100m, and 400m freestyle—and track athlete Chen Jin, who enters the long jump, 100m, and 200m events.
Training Systems Support Multi-Generational Roster
Local sports authorities have maintained targeted training and support frameworks to pair grassroots development with elite competition. The presence of both multi-Games veterans like Cui Zhe and first-time international competitors like Sun Chuanzhen highlights the depth of Shandong’s talent pipeline as competition gets underway in Aichi Prefecture.
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