China is set to send a formidable team of 35 athletes to the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships, kicking off this Friday in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. The host nation’s delegation includes seasoned veterans and rising stars, all eager to showcase their talents on the international stage.
Among them is 31-year-old veteran sprinter Xie Zhenye, who will compete in the men’s 60 meters alongside 21-year-old Deng Xinrui. In his debut at the Chinese National Indoor Championships earlier this year, Xie clocked 6.60 seconds, the second-fastest time in the country, just behind Deng’s impressive 6.57 seconds.
Ailixier Wumaier will make history as the first Chinese athlete to compete in the men’s 400 meters at the World Indoor Championships. Holding the national record with a personal best of 45.79 seconds, Wumaier is poised to make a significant impact.
Liu Junxi and Qin Weibo will represent China in the men’s 60-meter hurdles. Liu recently posted a personal best of 7.47 seconds in February, becoming only the second Asian athlete to surpass the 7.50-second mark in this event, following legendary hurdler Liu Xiang’s record of 7.41 set in 2012.
Two-time world champion Zhu Yaming will vie for glory in the men’s triple jump after achieving a leap of 17.31 meters in Jinan, marking the fourth-best performance globally this season.
Young talent Shu Heng, 20, will compete in the men’s long jump. Having consistently surpassed eight meters this year, Shu reached a remarkable 8.12 meters in Miramas, France, in February, ranking him third among Asian athletes this season.
On the women’s side, sprinter Liang Xiaojing will take on the women’s 60 meters. Her best time of 7.19 seconds last month has already outperformed any previous results by Chinese athletes at the World Indoor Championships, and she aims to replicate her success on the world stage.
Wu Hongjiao will compete in the women’s 800 meters, boasting a personal best of 2:05.04 achieved in Jinan.
Olympic gold medalist Gong Lijiao, 36, will be joined by Ma Yue, 25, in the women’s shot put. Gong continues her pursuit of surpassing the 21-meter mark, while Ma is set to make her debut at a major international competition.
With a blend of experienced champions and promising newcomers, China’s athletics team is set to make a strong impression at the World Athletics Indoor Championships. Fans around the world eagerly await the thrilling performances that lie ahead in Nanjing.
