National Games promises exciting stuff

They are all in Jinan, from Lin Dan and Ma Lin to Zhang Lin and Zou Shiming to Du Li and Li Na, and this time Liu Xiang (hopefully) will not limp off the track.

The 11th National Games, which opened at Jinan Olympic Sports Center in the capital of Shandong province on Friday night, will see in action almost all the Chinese stars who did the country proud at the Beijing Olympic Games 14 months ago.

Yao Ming, however, will be missing from the basketball court because of a foot injury, and New Jersey Nets forward Yi Jianlian's participation is uncertain owing to his pre-season schedule with the NBA team.