Six Zhanjiang athletes to participate in Asian Games

A total of six Zhanjiang athletes will attend the 18th Asian Games to be held in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, from Aug 18 to Sept 2, with their eyes set on medals.

Also known as Asiad, the Asian Games is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. It is also described as the second largest of its kind in the world after the Olympics.

On July 25, China announced a strong delegation for this year's event, sending 845 athletes, including 19 Olympic champions, to compete in 376 disciplines of 38 sports.

Chen Guangqin, a 19-year-old native of Leizhou Peninsula, was named to the national delegation. He was selected as the youngest member of the national dragon boat team last August and now serves as a leading rower.

Chen won three gold medals at the 13th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Kunming, Yunnan province in August 2017, and four gold medals in the 2017 China Longzhou Tournament in Lingshui, Hainan province last December.

He is now receiving intense training at the Guangdong International Rowing Centre in Guangzhou, along with his team member. They will compete in 200-meter, 500-meter and 1,000-meter dragon boat races at this year's Asiad.

Chen Yiwen, Wu Honghui, Lin Yupin, Li Jinxing and Liu Tingting are the other five Zhanjiang athletes that will compete in the 18th Asian Games. They will compete in diving, water polo, football, rock climbing, and gymnastics, respectively.