Team China continues dominance in Asian Para Games

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01:30

As the 2018 Asian Para Games came to an end on Saturday in Jakarta, Indonesia, Team China again led both the medal and the gold tallies with 319 medals including 172 golds, 88 silvers and 59 bronzes.

After kicking off on Oct. 6, the 2018 Asian Para Games has witnessed some 3,000 athletes from 44 nations and regions competing in 506 events for 18 sports. China sent 232 athletes to attend 15 of the sports. After seven days of competitions, Team China not only continued its dominance on the tallies, but also broke seven world records and 21 Asian records.

Chinese athletes at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Asian Para Games /VCG Photo

Zhang Haidi, chairperson of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) and leader of Team China in Indonesia, said that the Chinese athletes did a good job of maintaining the leading position on the tallies, making breakthroughs in certain events and witnessing some young talents come to the fore.

Of the 232 Chinese athletes in Indonesia, over half (125) of them were attending the Games for the first time. However, a young age did not keep them from helping their country defend its long-standing glory. Zhang said that it's these youngsters who gave her confidence in Team China at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo and the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing.

Zhang Haidi, chairperson of the CDPF, at the closing ceremony /VCG Photo

This is the ninth time that Team China has dominated both the medal and the gold tallies of the Asian Para Games. The Games in Indonesia is the third time that the event has used the name "Asian Para Games" after 2014 and 2010. Before that, the precursor of the event was the Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC).

China first attended the third FESPIC in 1982 hosted by Hong Kong and started to seize dual tally No.1s since 1986 in Indonesia.

South Korea ranked second on the gold tally of the 2018 Asian Para Games with 53 golds, followed by Iran, 51. Japan for the first time failed to make it to the top 3, ranking fourth with 45 golds. Indonesia as the host was No.5 after taking 37 gold medals.