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IAG-2021: China win three races to take Clear Sky contest
Meng Qingsheng
A Chinese soldier in action on a 400-meter-long obstacle course in the Clear Sky Combined Race of the International Army Games held in Korla of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. /Chinese People's Liberation Army

A Chinese soldier in action on a 400-meter-long obstacle course in the Clear Sky Combined Race of the International Army Games held in Korla of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. /Chinese People's Liberation Army

China claimed overall victory after winning all the three races of the Clear Sky contest – Master Race, Interaction Race and Combined Race – at the ongoing International Army Games (IAG) in Korla, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

On Wednesday, six countries – China, Russia, Belarus, Egypt, Uzbekistan and Venezuela – competed in the Clear Sky Combined Race, in which contestants drove armored vehicles on a 12km closed track.

Along the route, they went through 12 obstacle courses, including an anti-tank ditch and curve turns. They were required to fire from four positions, using such weapons as assault rifles and anti-aircraft machine guns.

Egyptian team members greet spectators in the Clear Sky Combined Race of the International Army Games held in Korla of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. /Chinese People's Liberation Army

Egyptian team members greet spectators in the Clear Sky Combined Race of the International Army Games held in Korla of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. /Chinese People's Liberation Army

The most challenging part was two team members firing two projectile targets with man-portable air defense systems.

"We aim for the projectile targets with the naked eye. Previously, foreign contestants had hit right on target. Three days ahead of the game, the brigade commander and the coach came and we discussed together techniques required to achieve the same result. Today, I tried a different method to launch the missile, and I made it," Li Zengzhong, chief gunner of the Chinese Clear Sky Team, told CGTN.

A highlight of the combined race is the inclusion of a 400-meter obstacle course. Before the race began, team members had to throw a grenade right into a circle. The whole process is a test of their strength, stamina and speed.

Russian team members drive the self-developed Typhoon-VDV wheeled armored vehicle in the Clear Sky Combined Race of the International Army Games held in Korla of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. /Chinese People's Liberation Army

Russian team members drive the self-developed Typhoon-VDV wheeled armored vehicle in the Clear Sky Combined Race of the International Army Games held in Korla of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. /Chinese People's Liberation Army

The Clear Sky Combined Race also involves the shooting of simulated helicopter targets and moving targets on the ground. The final results are judged based on the overall performance in obstacle crossing, shooting accuracy and total runtime.

Dong Weijiang, chief referee, said, "For a team, this combined race tests their ability to find an air target and destroy it on the battlefield. It also tests their ability to coordinate with each other. This is especially true when it comes to two people aiming for two projectile targets at the same time."

The chief referee concluded that the race is very close to real combat scenarios. "If a team can achieve good results, that means it has a strong capability to fight in battles," he added.

The Uzbek team fire a man-portable air-defense missile in the Clear Sky Combined Race of the International Army Games held in Korla of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. /Chinese People's Liberation Army

The Uzbek team fire a man-portable air-defense missile in the Clear Sky Combined Race of the International Army Games held in Korla of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. /Chinese People's Liberation Army

The Chinese team completed the Combined Race in 33 minutes and 20 seconds, followed by Russia, and Uzbekistan. The team also claimed victories in the other two stages of the races, the Mastery and the Interaction.

In terms of total runtime, the Chinese team won the Clear Sky contest with 81 minutes 5.381 seconds, followed by Russia and Uzbekistan.

The closing ceremony of the International Army Games will be held on Saturday.

(Xiao Lei from the Chinese People's Liberation Army contributed to this report.)

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