China aiming to top medals tally at Asian Games

Liu Peng

Incheon, Sep 18 (IANS) Chef de mission of the Chinese delegation for the Asian Games, Liu Peng, said Thursday that the country aims to top both the overall medals and gold medal tables at the Games which start here Friday.

"We've been the leaders on both medals and gold medal tables of Asian Games for nine straight editions. We want to keep on winning this time," said Liu at the flag rising and welcome ceremony held at the athletes' village, reports Xinhua.

Sending a delegation of more than 1,300 athletes and officials, including 33 Olympic champions, China will participate in all but one of the 36 sports at the September 19 to October 4 extravaganza.

At the last Asiad in Guangzhou four years ago, China collected 199 golds out of a total of 416 medals to 232 for South Korea and 216 for Japan.