A new generation of Chinese athletes arrived in London this week with hopes of dominating the Paralympics, but officials are downplaying chances the streamlined team can match its mammoth 2008 medal haul. China’s Paralympic team swept all aside in Beijing four years ago, with 89 golds and 211 medals in total, more than double its nearest rival Great Britain on both counts.
But its 332 athletes at Beijing — the largest ever Chinese Paralympic delegation — has been reduced to 282 for London, and almost half are debutants at the event. Jia Yong, vice president of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, said he hoped China will be among the top three teams in the London medals table. Other officials believe the Chinese athletes will face a stern test on foreign soil. As host four years ago China enjoyed automatic qualification, but failed to qualify for five of the 20 Paralympic sports in London.
“China is facing a much more difficult challenge than in Beijing when we were the host country, as the fight for each and every gold in London will be more intense,” said Wang Naikun, deputy head of China’s London Paralympics delegation. But China is still expected to top the medals table for the third consecutive games, dominating in athletics, powerlifting, judo and wheelchair fencing.
China plays down golden Paralympic expectations
