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The Chinese Paralympic delegation leave for Paris from Beijing on August 21, 2024. Photo: VCG

The Chinese delegation is expected to maintain its dominance at the Paris Paralympic Games which will be held from Wednesday to September 8, as they aspire not only to gain medals but also to foster international friendship, promote the well-being of disabled athletes and inspire greater participation in sports among disabled communities in China.

The 516-member delegation, consisting of 284 athletes, will compete in 19 sports, such as archery, athletics, badminton, wheelchair basketball and a total of 302 events. A total of 95 athletes will make their debut at the Paris Games. 

The delegation aims to excel in both sporting achievements and cultural exchange, hoping that their performances and effective communication at the Games will inspire more people with disabilities in China to engage in sports and cultural activities, pursue personal growth, and contribute to creating a supportive environment that advances the development of parasports and inclusivity in China's modernization efforts.

Given the strong track record of the Chinese delegation, they are expected to maintain their dominance on the medal table, and more importantly the Games provide a platform to showcase Chinese culture and commitment to inclusivity, Liu Yu, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

Team China's depth and experience suggest that they are likely to continue their impressive performances in some traditional strength events, including wheelchair fencing, swimming, powerlifting, athletics, table tennis, archery, shooting and badminton, Liu said. 

Establishing a strong image in global sports will serve as a powerful source of inspiration for disabled people in China and beyond. 

It demonstrates the potential for achievement despite physical challenges, encouraging greater participation in sports and promoting broader social integration and empowerment of people with disabilities, he noted.

Starting from the 2004 Athens Paralympics, the Chinese delegation has ranked first in both the gold medal count and the overall medal tally across five consecutive Summer Paralympic Games. 

At the Tokyo Paralympics, China topped the overall medal table with 96 gold, 60 silver, and 51 bronze medals. At the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics, Team China topped both the gold medal table and the overall medal table for the first time in Winter Paralympic history with 18 gold, 20 silver, and 23 bronze medals. 

The Paris Paralympics will feature 22 sports and 549 events, with approximately 4,400 athletes from around 160 countries and regions participating.

Wheelchair fencer Gu Haiyan and weightlifter Qi Yongkai will carry the national flag at the opening ceremony of the Paris Games on Wednesday evening.

As of Sunday, 18 teams from the Chinese delegation, including those for archery, athletics, badminton, and blind football, have all completed their adaptive training sessions in Paris, according to reports. 

Swimmer Zhu Hui, 15, the youngest member of the Chinese delegation, told the Guangming Daily that the team trained for four to five hours a day. He also noted that the training environment in Paris was not significantly different from that in China. Zhu is set to compete in six swimming events at the Paris Games.