IT'S THEIR TIME TO SHINE

Editor's note: With the Olympic stage set, and golden glory beckoning, Chinese athletes have been going all-out to ensure it will be a medal-laden campaign at Paris 2024.

Zhang Zhizhen (picture 1)

Age: 27

Event: tennis, men's singles

Zhang Zhizhen clinched his spot at the Paris Olympics directly by winning gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year. At Wimbledon this month, the Shanghai native achieved the milestone of winning a match at all four Grand Slams and reached a world ranking of 31, the highest of any male Chinese player. Zhang has reached the third round at the past two French Opens, and, with his strong performance on clay courts, he could boost China's prospects in the tennis competition at the upcoming Olympics.

Ma Long (2)

Age: 35

Event: table tennis, men's team

In his fourth Olympic appearance, Ma Long stands as a legendary figure in Chinese table tennis. At the Paris Olympics, he will focus solely on the men's team event, aiming to guide China to another victorious title defense. A triumph would earn him his sixth Olympic gold medal, cementing his status as the nation's most decorated Olympic athlete.

Zhang Yufei (3)

Age: 26

Event: women's swimming

"The Butterfly Queen" Zhang Yufei is gearing up for her title defense at the Paris Olympics. A formidable contender in both the women's 100m and 200m events, Zhang faces fierce competition. At the Tokyo Olympics, she secured two gold and two silver medals. For Paris, she has set her sights on surpassing her Tokyo medal tally and achieving a new world record.

Quan Hongchan (4)

Age: 17

Event: women's 10m platform& women's synchronized 10m platform

At just 17, Quan Hongchan will be competing at her second Olympics in Paris. In Tokyo, the then-14-year-old wowed audiences by scoring perfect 10s on three of her dives in the 10m platform final, winning gold.

In Paris, Quan will defend her title, competing alongside compatriot Chen Yuxi. The pair, who have dominated recent competitions, will showcase their "splashless "dives. Quan is confident, stating, "I aim to raise the Chinese flag to the highest point."

Huang Yuting/Sheng Lihao (5)

Age: 17/19

Event: 10m air rifle mixed team

According to the Paris Olympics schedule, the first gold medal is likely to be awarded in the 10m air rifle mixed team event. China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao are strong contenders for this medal, aiming to uphold the tradition of the Chinese shooting team by clinching the first victory for the national delegation.

The duo has partnered in the 10m air rifle mixed team event throughout the current Olympic cycle, showcasing impressive form and securing top podium finishes at prestigious events, including the World Cup, World Championships and last year's Asian Games.

Qin Haiyang (6)

Age: 25

Event: men's swimming

In the past two years, Qin Haiyang has demonstrated extraordinary prowess. At the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, he broke the men's 200m breaststroke world record with a time of 2:05.48, winning gold. He also made history by becoming the first athlete to sweep the men's 50m, 100m, and 200m breaststroke titles at a single World Championships.

Named World Aquatics' Best Male Swimmer of 2023, Qin now has gold in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke at the Paris Olympics in his sights. He will, however, face fierce competition from top Australian and US swimmers.

Gong Lijiao (7)

Age: 35

Event: women's shot put

At 35, Gong Lijiao is gearing up for her fifth Olympic appearance, leading the Chinese athletics team to Paris. In Tokyo, she recorded a personal best of 20.58 meters in the women's shot put, winning Olympic gold to complete a "grand slam" of titles. Despite the inevitable challenges of age, including injuries and stamina issues, Gong's goal remains unwavering: to defend her Olympic title and achieve a 21-meter throw.

Zhu Ting (8)

Age: 29

Event: women's volleyball

Zhu Ting announced her much-anticipated return to the Chinese women's national volleyball team via social media in April. Her comeback has already paid off, as China secured its Olympic berth through world rankings in this year's FIVB Volleyball Nations League. Zhu is now focused on syncing with her teammates and fine-tuning her form to peak just in time for the Olympics.

After navigating a period of setbacks and poor results, the Chinese team will arrive at the Paris Games with a determined edge.

Drawn in Group A, alongside formidable opponents like host France, Serbia and the US, Team China's journey to the podium will be a tough one.