105 Foshan athletes representing GD in National Games

On August 31, Handball Game of China's 14th National Games was held in Huyi campus of Xi'an Institute of Physical Education. As the first appearance on a final for Foshan athletes, the first round of the game witnessed a competition between Guangdong women's team and Anhui women's team. More than a hundred athletes from Foshan have joined the National Games this year.

Chen Qingchen from Foshan and her partner Jia Yifan took home a silver medal at Tokyo Olympic 2020

The 14th National Games of China will be held in Shaanxi Province from September 15 to 27. There will be 35 major sport events, 52 sub-events, and 409 minor events in competitive sports. In addition, bigger platform will be provided this year for the mass, as there comes multiple mass sports events, including 15 major events and 142 minor events in the competition category, 4 major events and 43 minor events in the show & performance category. Reportedly, events will be presented to the audience both online and offline.

Statistically, a total of 62 professional athletes from Foshan have joined 22 events such as track and field, swimming, weightlifting, and table tennis. Some of the household names are Chen Qingchen and Zheng Pengfei, who just won silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Tan Zhiqing, a 40-year-old veteran making his sixth appearance on the game, and 20 table tennis players born in post 2000s (with Zong Geman being the youngest, only 15). "For Geman, this is a good opportunity." said Cao Jiguang, her table tennis coach at Foshan Sports School. As 14 world ping pong champions will join the game, including Ma Long, Xu Xin, Fan Zhendong and Liu Shiwen, everything on the medal counts will be fierce. Zong Geman and Liu Shiwen will represent the Guangdong team in the women's team competition.

Zonggeman, born in 2006, will represent Guangdong in the Women's Table Tennis Team Competition in the 14th National Games

On top of strong advantages at traditional games, Foshan athletes also have a great voice in emerging events. Break dance is a case in point. First introduced into the National Games this year, Break dance has become a new sport for many to explore. Foshan athlete Huang Yingzhi, who has won numerous break dance medals in recent years, will represent Guangdong province for this spectacular game. Break dance at National Games is for now scheduled to be held in Nanjing this mid-September, where there will be both men's and women's and all participants will compete in a one-on-one battle. The judging board applies the scoring system from Chinese Dance Sports Federation. At this point, Huang is focusing on her daily training at Guangdong Boat Training Center.

For the upcoming National Games, Foshan athletes are expected to win golds and silvers in professional sports - water polo, badminton, basketball, rowing, kayaking, and etc. For mass sports group, 43 players from Lecong Dragon Boat Club, Jiujiang Dragon Boat Club, Jun'an Women's Basketball Team and Foshan Table Tennis Association will be giving out their best shot for championships in dragon boat, basketball, and table tennis.

Author | Jersey

Revisor | Jessica

Photo | Foshan Daily