China's Wushu team is preparing for next month's Asian Games in Indonesia and working to increase its haul from four years ago in South Korea. The squad claimed gold in 10 of the 15 events in Incheon, and after retooling the roster before flying to Jakarta, it will be looking to extend their dominance on the continental stage.

The team has been working out as a full unit since last month, first training in the highlands of Chongli, before heading to Shijiazhuang, where the shifting weather is similar to what they can expect at the 2018 Asian Games. Leading the way are returning gold medalists Sun Peiyun and Chen Zhouli, while five newcomers will make their continental debuts in Jakarta.

China Wushu routine coach Wei Xinhuan said, “Our time is limited, our task is heavy, and the pressure is on our shoulders. We want to train the athletes to reach their best form while avoiding injuries. So far, our results have been satisfactory, and we have managed to achieve our goals up to this point.”

Sun topped the podium in Daoshu in Incheon but will compete in Changquan at this edition of the multi-sport spectacle. The 29-year-old has been practicing Wushu since he was six, and that means the injuries have really added up.

“I start my sessions by taking a series of precautions to make sure I don't come down with another injury. I have already suffered five or six injuries. My teammates say that I look like a mummy when I come to training,” Sun, the Daoshu champion told CGTN Sports Scene.

The veteran martial artist mentioned that he felt pressure not just in terms of his fitness, but also because he is the first member of the squad to perform, and he knows very well the importance of setting a positive tone.

“As the first team member to perform, I feel a bit intimidated, but I am training to be confident and try to give the team a good start.”

Chen, 29, took top honors in Taijiquan four years ago in South Korea. Now he's determined to repeat that result and actually feels that international events are not as difficult as domestic showcases, as long as he executes his routines to precision, and maintains strong physical conditioning. He mentioned, “We are now at a stage where we need to upgrade our degree of difficulty, and when there's one week left before the competition, we will taper down our training sessions to focus our minds.”

The majority of the Chinese delegation will head to the Indonesian capital from Beijing on August 15th, with the Wushu program went underway four days later.