PARALYMPIANS Zhou Jiamin and Wang Hao have been named as the Chinese delegation’s flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, the delegation announced yesterday. Zhou claimed the women’s composite bow open-individual and mixed doubles titles at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Wang won the long jump golds in the 2017 and 2019 World Para Athletics Championships. In this Paralympic Games, he will compete in three events: men’s T46 100m sprint, long jump and 4x100m men’s and women’s mixed relay. Meanwhile, Zhang Haidi, the chef de mission for China at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, said Sunday that she expected the Chinese athletes to deliver good performances in the upcoming sports gala. The Chinese Paralympians, of which 132 are female and 119 are male, will compete in 20 of the 22 sports on the Tokyo 2020 program, including first-time Paralympic events of taekwondo and badminton, representing a record for the most sports China has competed in at an overseas Paralympic Games. “We have a great mission this time. Despite of the pandemic, our athletes still trained hard to participate in the Paralympic Games. Our safety always comes first,” Zhang told Xinhua after arriving at Tokyo’s Narita Airport. “We must take all kinds of measures to protect ourselves, and under these special conditions, we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to strive for the best results and win glory for our country,” she added. Chinese triathlete Wang Jiachao said: “The Tokyo Paralympics was delayed by one year, so it was not easy for those of us who kept training for five years after 2016. I am grateful to the organizers to host an event that will fulfil our dreams. I am looking forward a breakthrough and will enjoy every moment of it.” The Tokyo Paralympic Games will run from today to Sept. 5. (Xinhua) | 