New talents and shining stars emerge from National Games

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The 13th National Games, dubbed China's mini-Olympics, concluded on Friday after twelve competition days, 417 gold medals and participation from more than 12,000 athletes.

During the quadrennial sports gala, four world and three Asian records, as well as eleven national and three national junior ones were broken in the fields of shooting, weightlifting, cycling, athletics and swimming.

Sun Yang. /Photo via sports.people.com

Sun Yang led the award winning pack as the 25-year-old Olympic and world champion took six titles and one silver medal. The substantial tally came from competing in all eight days of swimming competition, including eight freestyle and relay finals.

In the shooting tournament, multiple records were broken, including five-time Olympian Tan Zongliang breaking the men's 10m air pistol by 0.7 points.

Star badminton player, 33-year-old Lin Dan, built on his legend by claiming a fourth consecutive crown at the Games, only a few days after the two-time Olympic and five-time world champion reached the World Championships final in Glasgow.

The table tennis court also saw big names live up to their reputation, as reigning Olympic and world title holders Ma Long and Ding Ning lifted their respective trophies at the men's and women's singles.

Photo via sports.cn

It wasn't all about the the established figures, however, as talented youngsters emerged at the Games, which also served as the showcase for future stars - many of whom competed directly with China's Olympic heroes.

In the pool, Li Bingjie, who is only 15 years old, tied with world champion Xu Jiayu and butterfly expert Li Zhuhao for the joint second place of multi-medal winners with four golds each.

The teenage sensation set the new Asian records in women's 400m with 4:01.75 and a 1,500m freestyle of 15:52.87, as well as an 800m win and a relay victory.

Zhang Jiaqi, who beat Olympic gold medalist Ren Qian to triumph in the women's 10m platform, after taking the 10m synchronized title, is only 13-years-old, and swimming's junior champion of four events Wang Yichun is one year younger.

Besides for the elite professional athletes featuring in 417 events across 33 sports, 7,620 amateurs participated in 126 events across 19 programs at the Games, which officially has the theme of "National Games for a Healthy China".

Photo via baqiu.com

The National Games also served to test the athletes' mettle in preparation for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics as 21 events, like the men's 800m freestyle swimming and mixed team archery, were introduced.

Combinations of different delegations were encouraged in these Games and 37 out of the 279 combinations, involving 870 athletes, claimed golds in diving, track and field, track cycling, sailing, swimming, rowing and more.

In another unprecedented move, 9 professional and 22 amateur overseas Chinese were given the permission to enter finals in the Games, including equestrian rider Zhu Meimei, who took a bronze.

The Games had 130 finals in 12 Olympic sports including marathon running, synchronized swimming and tennis, as well as in 17 out of 19 popular programs - such as tai chi, chess and rock climbing - having their finals ahead of the official opening on August 27, making this National Games the biggest ever.

The 14th National Games will be held in the northwestern Shaanxi province in 2021.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency