INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Host nation China will send a total of 35 athletes to the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships, which will get underway on Friday
in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province.31-year-old veteran sprinter Xie Zhenye will participate in the men's 60 meters, along with
21-year-old compatriot Deng Xinrui
In his debut in the 60 meters at the Chinese National Indoor Championships in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, earlier this year, Xie
crossed the finish line in 6.60 seconds, the second-fastest time in the country, behind Deng's 6.57 seconds.Ailixier Wumaier will become the
first Chinese athlete to compete in the men's 400 meters at the World Indoor Championships at this edition
He is the current national record holder in the event, after clocking a personal best of 45.79 seconds.Liu Junxi and Qin Weibo will take
part in the men's 60 meter hurdles
In February, Liu posted a personal best of 7.47 seconds, becoming the second Asian athlete to go below 7.50 seconds in this event, following
countryman Liu Xiang's continental record of 7.41 in 2012.Two-time world champion Zhu Yaming will continue to challenge himself in the men's
He leaped 17.31 meters in Jinan, the fourth-best mark in the world so far this season.Shu Heng, 20, will compete in the men's long jump
He has surpassed eight meters multiple times this year, and reached 8.12 meters in Miramas, France, in February, the third-best performance
among Asian athletes this season.On the women's side, Liang Xiaojing will compete in the women's 60 meters
Her best time of 7.19 seconds in a domestic race last month is already better than the top performance of any compatriot at the World Indoor
She is looking forward to repeating the feat on the international level.Wu Hongjiao will line up in the women's 800 meters
She set a personal best of 2:05.04 in Jinan.Olympic gold medalist Gong Lijiao will be joined by Ma Yue in the women's shot put
Gong, 36, has not given up on her goal of exceeding 21 meters, while the 25-year-old Ma will throw at a major international competition for
the first time in her career.
