by Alfonz Juck
Gong Lijao, photo by PhotoRun.net
SHANGHAI (CHN): Chinese athletes will compete in all 16 events. Su Bingtian and Xie Zhenye, dubbed as the Dash Duo in China, will line up at star-filled Men’s 100m. Men’s 110m hurdles, the legacy discipline in Shanghai even after the retirement of the legendary Liu Xiang, will see Xie Wenjun to compete. Both Mens’ Pole Vault and Men’s Long Jump will have three Chinese athletes. On the women’s side, Gong Lijiao, the shot put winner of London World Championship and Diamond Trophy owner in 2017, will seek to continue her dominance in Shanghai. While Lu Huihui, the bronze medalist of World Championship in London and meeting record holder, will compete at women’s Javelin.
RunBlogRun opines: We do not have to back to far, say May 1975, when a US team competed against a Chinese national team. Many saw the potential of the second most populous country in the world in our sport of athletics. Truth is, China’s success in track & field has been one of the underlying themes in the sport. Over the past several World Champs, relays, sprinters, technical events (shot, javelin, hammer, jumps), China has found talent. Their relay teams are spot on, and their jumpers and throwers are tremendous. In Shanghai, the meet will showcase many of China’s finest stars. The meet is on my bucket list, but, alas, another year.
Su Bingtian, photo by PhotoRun.net
