Record Delegation Set to Compete in Diverse Sports, Including Para-Athletes

China has unveiled its 489-member delegation, including 321 athletes, for the 2025 World Games in Chengdu. The announcement was made during a team-launch ceremony held on Tuesday.

The 12th edition of the World Games, a major international multisport event, will take place in Chengdu from August 7th to 17th. This marks the first time the event will be hosted on the Chinese mainland. The games will feature a wide array of sports, encompassing 34 different sports, 60 disciplines, and a total of 256 events.

The Chinese delegation will see 321 athletes, comprising 156 men and 165 women, competing in 152 events across 28 sports. This represents the largest Chinese delegation in the history of the World Games. The team will make its debut in 12 sports, including floorball, cheerleading, flying disc, and powerboating. The athletes range in age from 13 to 50, with an average age of 23.8. A significant portion of the athletes are teachers, students, corporate employees, or freelancers, reflecting the inclusive nature of the event.

Notably, para-athletes will be included in the delegation for the first time. Among them is Paralympic archer Ai Xinliang, who will compete alongside nondisabled athletes in the archery event. Ai noted that mixed training sessions have allowed para-athletes and nondisabled athletes to learn from each other. He emphasized the value of the World Games in providing para-athletes with the opportunity to compete at a major international event.

During the launch ceremony, sports authorities emphasized the importance of striving for excellence while adhering to principles of fair play and a zero-tolerance policy for doping.

Chinese karate competitor Gong Li, a bronze medalist from the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, expressed her determination to perform at her peak in Chengdu. She also hopes to stand atop the podium. Despite karate's exclusion from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Gong is maintaining an Olympic-level preparation mindset for the World Games.

Zhong Qixin, head coach of China's sport climbing team and a former gold medalist, shared his aspirations for the home event. He expressed the team's determination to deliver strong performances and showcase their skills. He also hopes international athletes and coaches will excel and enjoy the games.

Key gold-medal events for the Chinese delegation are expected to include wushu, sport climbing, acrobatic gymnastics, roller-skating, and dragon boat racing. Medals are also anticipated in events such as bocce, dancesport, trampoline, parkour, cheerleading, karate, para-freediving, and para-jujitsu.