China sends biggest-ever delegation abroad to Asian Para Games in Japan

(ECNS) -- The 5th Asian Para Games opened in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Sunday, with China sending 312 athletes to compete across 17 sports and 335 events — its largest-ever delegation for an overseas edition of the Games.

The Games, running from Oct. 18 to 24 under the theme "Imagine One Heart," bring together nearly 3,000 para athletes from 45 countries and regions across Asia, competing in about 500 events across 18 sports.

Chinese para taekwondo athlete Li Yujie and para powerlifter Yan Panpan served as flagbearers for the Chinese delegation during the opening ceremony at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.

The Chinese delegation totals around 500 members, including 312 athletes with an average age of about 28.8. All Chinese athletes are amateurs from diverse backgrounds, including workers, students, office employees and freelancers.

This marks China's fifth participation in the Asian Para Games.

The Asian Para Games are organized by the Asian Paralympic Committee, a regional organization of the International Paralympic Committee, and succeeded the Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled, which began in 1975. Since the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, the Asian Para Games have been held in the same city and the same year as the Asian Games.

(By Tang Yuxian)