With the 2020 Summer Olympics kicking off a year late in Tokyo tomorrow, it’s time today to say “hello”, “good luck” and “加油” to eight sporting elites from China who also represent our great city of Nanjing. Bring us back some gold, guys ’n’ gals!
Our local sporting stars to look out for over the next 2 weeks excel in boxing, epee, football, judo, rugby, skateboarding, synchronised swimming and volleyball. And the girls far outnumber the boys, at 7:1.
Among them are three former Olympic-medal winners; female fencer, Xu Anqi, who won gold in the London Olympics and silver in Rio; women’s volleyball player, Zhang Changning, who also brought us back a gold from Rio; and synchronised swimmer, Guo Li, who won silver in 2016.
They are joined by the youngsters; Chen Daxiang, Peng Shimeng, Xu Shiyan, Yan Meiling and Zhang Xin, who all tomorrow make their Olympic debut in Japan, reported Nanjing Daily.
Meet the Nanjing Olympians limbering up and ready to go in Tokyo:
Xu Anqi
Born in Nanjing in 1992
Discipline: Women’s Epee
Main achievements: Gold-medal winner in the women’s epee team competition at the 2012 Olympics; silver-medal winner in the women’s epee team competition at the 2016 Olympics; winner of more than 10 World Cup Championships; 10-plus medals in Asian competitions
Quote: “The biggest advantage is the mentality. Regardless of the game, take it seriously and pull out all your strength. This is enough”
Zhang Changning
High school graduate of Nanjing Qixia Middle School in 2014; Master’s degree from Nanjing Normal University in 2019
Discipline: Women’s Volleyball
Main achievements: Champion in the 2015 Women’s Volleyball World Cup; Gold-medal winner in the 2016 Olympics; champion in the 2017 World Women’s Volleyball Champions Cup; third place in the 2018 Women’s Volleyball World Championship; champion in the 2019 Women’s Volleyball World Cup
Quote: “Focus your energy on training and competition to make yourself better”
Guo Li
Born in Nanjing in 1993
Discipline: Synchronised Swimming
Main achievements: two-time gold-medal winner in the team and combined events at the 2014 Asian Games; two-time gold-medal winner in the team and combined events at the 2014 Synchronised Swimming World Cup; three-time runner up in the team technique, team freestyle and team combination at the 2015 World Swimming Championships; silver-medal winner in the team event at the 2016 Olympics; gold-medal winner in the team combination at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships; bronze-medal winner in the team event at the 2018 Volleyball Women’s World Championship
Quote: “I believe that we will make a qualitative leap in the Olympics, and we will do better than everyone expected”
Zhang Xin
Graduated from Nanjing Institute of Physical Education
Discipline: Women’s Park Skateboarding
Main achievements: Bronze medal in the women’s park at the 2018 Asian Games; ninth in the women’s park in the 2019 International Skateboard Open (Olympic Points Contest @Nanjing)
Quote: “I am full of expectations for the Olympics, and I want to show my best self”
Yan Meiling
Born in 1997, female rugby player from the Amateur Sports School in Nanjing’s Liuhe District
Discipline: Women’s Rugby
Main achievements: Runner up in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games; seventh in the 2019 World Series; runner up in the 2019 Asian Series Points Tournament
Quote: “I have the motherland in my heart, the people in my mind, responsibilities on my shoulders, comrades in arms and opponents in my eyes!”
Xu Shiyan
Graduated from Nanjing Heavy Sports School
Discipline: Women’s Judo over 78 kg
Main achievements:
Third place at the 2019 World Judo Grand Prix; second place in the 2019 World Judo Open; champion in the 2021 World Judo Grand Slam; runner up in the 2021 World Judo Grand Slam; champion in the 2021 Asian Judo Championship
Quote: “My goal for the Olympics is very clear, and I will go all out”
Peng Shimeng
Discipline: Women’s Football
Main achievements: 2016 Yongchuan Four Nations Championship; 2017 Foshan Four Nations Championship; third place in the 2018 Asian Cup; 2019 Meizhou Four Nations Championship
Quote: “Keep well the goal of Chinese women’s football”
Chen Daxiang
Jiangsu Sports Boxer
Discipline : Men’s Boxing 75-81 kg
Main achievements: Third place in the 2020 Asia-Region Olympic Qualification Tournament
Quote: “Strive for good results, win glory for the motherland and bring applause on Nanjing”
