CHINA aims to dominate the Asian Games medals table for the ninth consecutive time as it sends a large squad to Incheon, South Korea, for the continent’s premier sporting event.

    China’s team of more than 1,300 athletes and officials will participate in all but one of the 36 sports at the Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 Games, with 33 Olympic champions in its squad.

    “We consider the Asian Games an important part of our preparation for the 2016 Rio de Janerio Olympic Games,” said Xiao Tian, deputy chef de mission of Team China.

    “We hope that our athletes can show their fighting spirit and sportsmanship at the Asian Games and maintain our No. 1 position on the medals table.”

    At the last Asiad in Guangzhou in 2010, China topped the table for the eighth straight time with 199 golds. It grabbed 416 medals overall, to 232 for South Korea and 216 for Japan.

    China will likely dominate table tennis, gymnastics, diving, badminton, weightlifting and track and field, while fielding competitive athletes in other sports of the Games, with a total of 439 gold medals up for grabs.

    But Liu Peng, chef de mission of Team China, stressed that the performance of the “Big Ball” (soccer, basketball, volleyball) teams will carry great significance. “Our teams of the three ‘Big Ball’ events face uphill battle in Incheon,” said Liu. “I hope that they won’t be daunted by the challenge and can make a breakthrough.”

    To his disappointment, however, China’s men’s soccer team went down 0-3 to North Korea on Monday.

    China’s badminton coach Li Yongbo is hoping his team can win all seven gold medals on offer, with star player Lin Dan and reigning world women’s singles champion Li Xuerui also in the lineup.

    In track and field, China is hoping to better the 13 gold medals it won in Guangzhou, with hopes highest in men’s long jump, women’s shot put, discus and long-distance running.(Xinhua)