bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Jonathan White

China has fast become one of the most dominant nations on the Olympic scene.
Since it sent its first delegation of more than one athlete to the Los Angeles Games in 1984, the PRC has cemented their reputation as a global powerhouse.
In the last five Summer Games they have finished third on the medal table twice and second on the table twice more, while they topped the standings when they hosted in Beijing in 2008.
It is fair to say China expects, and these are some of the athletes that they have high hopes for in Tokyo next summer.
Sun Yang
Swimming

The only man in history to have Olympic and world championships golds at 200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m, Sun is a national hero for his feats in the pool, where he became the first Chinese to win swimming gold at the Games, and his unabashed patriotism out of it.
While his talent is undoubted, a massive question mark hangs over the giant swimmer after recent revelations regarding his refusal to submit to an out-of-competition drug test. The case is going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and will be heard in September, with Wada looking for a life ban.
If he wins in court, he will be expected to win again in Tokyo.
Xin Xin
Swimming

China's first open water swimming World Champion EVER. Xin Xin in women's 10km. pic.twitter.com/kL1rSb1vnD
— Chinese Swimming News and Results (@fan_swimming) July 14, 2019

Last week, Xin Xin became China’s first-ever open water world champion in the women’s 10km. She won the event in Gwangju, South Korea, by almost a second over US swimmer Haley Anderson.
With that win she qualified for Tokyo 2020 and what will be her third Olympics. Xin went to London 2012 at 15 to compete in the 800m freestyle, but failed to get past the heats.
She switched to open water and just missed out on the medals in Rio, finishing fourth in her first major 10km swim.
Xu Jiayu
Swimming

The silver medallist in the 100m at Rio 2016 holds all three Chinese national records in backstroke. He has thrived in short-course events in recent years, where he has set world records, but has shown his ability in Olympic-size pools.
He is one of only two active swimmers along with Ryan Murphy to swim the 100m in under 52 seconds, and his personal best is only 0.01 seconds behind the American’s world record.
Xu, who began swimming in his hometown of Wenzhou when he was seven, will be 23 when the Tokyo Games start. He was the fastest man in the pool this season ahead of Gwangju.
Zhu Ting
Volleyball

The captain of the Chinese women’s team was awarded the MVP award of the Rio Olympics Games 2016 as she led them to their first gold since the Los Angeles Games, back when current coach Lang Ping was the star player.
Zhu, 24, became the highest-paid volleyball player in the world when she moved to Turkish side Vakifbank Istanbul after the Rio Games, but returned to China this summer to focus on the Olympics.
An MVP on the biggest stages for club and country, the spiker will lead China’s charge in Tokyo, where the side will look to retain their crown.
Shi Yuqi
Badminton

Chinese badminton fans have been spoilt in the last decade with Lin Dan, perhaps the greatest player to have ever picked up a racquet, winning title after title.
Now 35, Super Dan’s days of dominance are done and the nation’s hopes fall on Shi Yuqi. As if to prove he is the chosen one, the 23-year-old beat Lin in the 2017 and 2018 All England Open finals and is ranked No 2 in the world behind Japan’s Kento Momota.
Xie Siyi and Cao Yuan
Diving

China has a stranglehold on diving to the point where the last non-Chinese men’s solo gold at the worlds came back in 2005.
Xie, 23, and Cao, 24, are two of the finest individually – they finished first and second in the solo 3m springboard at the world championships in Gwangju, South Korea, last week – but are arguably better together.
They won the 3m synchronised gold in Gwangju and qualified for Tokyo, which will be Xie’s first Olympics. Cao has three Games golds.
Li Wenwen
Weightlifting

Read how Li Wenwen of China broke the snatch world record along with all the other latest #weightfting news on the dedicated IWF Section https://t.co/OEN2eIBeBI pic.twitter.com/W6KW3bhuRI
— insidethegames (@insidethegames) May 1, 2019

The teenage prodigy is just 19 but already the Asian champion after winning gold in Ningbo this year.
She then went to the IVF World Cup and won silver, setting junior world records in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total in the 87kg category.
Xu Xin
Table tennis

While Ma Long might be the rock star of table tennis and Fan Zhendong represents the future, it is the world No 1 who represents China’s best medal hope.
Not just in the singles but in both the men’s doubles and the mixed doubles, a new event for the Tokyo Games.
Xu has had a fantastic year across the board, but that is no guarantee he will be named as one of China’s two singles players in the men’s tournament. The honour is expected to go to Ma and Fan, but he should be a shoo-in for the doubles.
Zhao Shuai and Zheng Shuyin
Taekwondo

Zhao won gold at Rio and the last two world championships. Zhao was also the flag bearer at the 2018 Asian Games, but disappointed by coming away with silver.
The other half of China’s taekwondo power couple, Zheng became famous outside China this year for her tears at a decision by judges at the world championships in Manchester. She lost to Britain’s Bianca Walkden after the British fighter kept pushing her off the mat, which resulted in a penalty for the Chinese. That loss was greeted with a chorus of boos by the crowd in Manchester, who were rooting for the Rio Games gold medallist.


Chinese swimmers’ doping tests: Wada launches Operation Puncture to probe leak

China women’s volleyball coach Zhao says ‘hard work’ can take team back to top

Doping offence earns Tokyo Olympics swimming gold medallist a 21-month ban

Osaka Expo’s ticket sales flop: will Japan’s futuristic fair be a financial failure?

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

2020 Olympics one-year countdown: Sun Yang leads China’s Tokyo medal hopes

Sun Yang of China reacts after winning the men's 400m freestyle final at the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. Photo: Xinhua

China's Xie Siyi performs his routine in the men's 3m springboard diving final at the World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, Thursday, July 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man )

2016 Rio Olympics - Taekwondo - Final - Men's -58kg Gold Medal Final - Carioca Arena 3 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 17/08/2016. Zhao Shuai (CHN) of China celebrates winning the match. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Badminton - Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships - Arena Birmingham, Birmingham, Britain - March 18, 2018 China's Shi Yuqi celebrates victory in the men's singles final Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

(190721) -- JOHOR BAHRU, July 21, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Xu Xin competes during the men's singles 3rd place match between Xu Xin of China and Wong Chun Ting of China's Hong Kong at T2 Diamond Malaysia 2019 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, July 21, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

epa07734535 Yang Sun of China walks out after competing in the men's 800m Freestyle Heats during the Swimming events at the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Championships, Gwangju, South Korea, 23 July 2019. EPA-EFE/PATRICK B. KRAEMER

China captain Zhu Ting

China's Xu Jiayu starts when winning the gold medal in the men's 100-meter backstroke final during the swimming competitions of the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, July 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Sun Yang scandal: It’s fake news say China swim chiefs as social media backs Olympic champion in face of doping allegations

China’s Sun Yang is in tears after winning the men's 1,500m freestyle at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. Photo: EPA

epa06968982 Sun Yang of China reacts after winning the gold medal in the men's 1,500m Freestyle swimming final at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, 24 August 2018. EPA-EFE/WU HONG

(180824) -- JAKARTA, Aug. 24, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Gold medalist Sun Yang (C) of China and bronze medalist Ji Xinjie (R) of China pose for pictures after the awarding ceremony of men's 1500m freestyle final of swimming at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 24, 2018. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

(180824) -- JAKARTA, Aug. 24, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Sun Yang (Top) of China competes during men's 1500m freestyle final of swimming at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 24, 2018. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Sun Yang ‘the Harry Houdini of doping control’: British swimmers criticise Chinese icon – Mack Horton appears to agree

China’s Sun Yang celebrates after winning the 400m freestyle final at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Photo: Reuters

FILE PHOTO: China's Sun Yang celebrates with his gold medal and national flag after winning the men's 1500m freestyle final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 4, 2012. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo

FILE PHOTO - 2016 Rio Olympics - Swimming - Victory Ceremony - Men's 200m Freestyle Victory Ceremony - Olympic Aquatics Stadium - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 08/08/2016. Sun Yang (CHN) of China kisses his gold medal. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. Picture Supplied by Action Images

2020 Olympics one-year countdown: Hong Kong’s top medal hopes for Tokyo Games

Hong Kong’s brightest Tokyo 2020 hopes. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong's Individual Senior Female Kata winner Grace Lau Mo-sheung aims at her third gold medal in the East Asian Karate Championships at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai. 11MAY19 SCMP / Jonathan Wong

epa06968066 Shek Wai Hung of Hong Kong competes on vault during the artistic gymnastics men's individual finals at the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia, 24 August 2018. EPA-EFE/MAST IRHAM

2016 Rio Olympics - Swimming - Preliminary - Women's 200m Freestyle - Heats - Olympic Aquatics Stadium - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 08/08/2016. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) of Hong Kong reacts. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

Fencing - 2018 Asian Games - Men's Foil Individual Semifinals - JCC Cendrawasih, Jakarta, Indonesia - August 21, 2018 Cheung Ka Long of Hong Kong in action with Nicholas Edward Choi of Hong Kong REUTERS/Beawiharta

Vivian Kong competes in Cali, Colombia for the World Cup series

2020 Olympics one-year countdown: a guide to the new Tokyo Games events – sport climbing, skateboarding and surfing debut to appeal to youth

Japan's Taiki Karube competes in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games test event at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach in Chiba. Photo: AFP

FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2018, file photo, Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani lines out against the Houston Astros during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Houston. Ohtani has been medically cleared to resume full strength training on his right arm following Tommy John surgery, although he will not be ready to hit for the Angels by opening day. Angels general manager Billy Eppler provided a positive update Thursday, Jan. 31, on the recovery of his two-way star. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

Photo taken with a 180-degree panoramic camera on May 26, 2019, shows Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo, the venue for 2020 Olympic and Paralympic judo events and Olympic karate events. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

(190717) -- NANJING, July 17, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Gao Qunxiang of China competes during the men open qualifier heats at the 2019 International Skateboarding Open in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province on July 17, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

2020 Olympics one-year countdown: Tokyo already bursting at the seams and boiling over

Tokyo 2020 Olympic mascot Miraitowa (left) and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic mascot Someity (right) unveil the Tokyo 2020 mascot robot Miraitowa at a ceremony to mark ‘One Year To Go Tokyo 2020’. Photo: EPA

Photo taken on July 19, 2019, shows Japan's new National Stadium in Tokyo, the main venue for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, still under construction about one ahead of the Games. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

A sculpture of an athlete is unveiled in Tokyo's Nihombashi district on July 23, 2019, a day before the marking of the one year countdown to the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Photo taken in Tokyo on June 13, 2019, shows the athletes' village for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, under construction. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Photo taken in Tokyo's Nihombashi district July 23, 2019, shows promotional banners for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. The decorations will continue through Aug. 25. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Sport

China

Nation has rapidly become dominant since sending first team to Los Angeles 1984, even topping the medal table at Beijing 2008
Diving and swimming medals targeted along with high hopes in table tennis and taekwondo


Nation has rapidly become dominant since sending first team to Los Angeles 1984, even topping the medal table at Beijing 2008


Sun Yang

Lin Dan