China Vow to Top Medal Table at UniversiadeChina will top the medal table for the first time in the 21st World University Games, which is the first world competition held in Beijing after the capital of China won the bid to stage the 2008 Olympic Games, top official vowed on Saturday.Li Furong, head of the Chinese delegation, said on China's flag- hosting ceremony in the Universiade Village, "China's best record in the Universiade was a second-placed finishing with ten golds in 1993. This time we are confident to win the first place." About 30 athletes and officials attended the ceremony on the flag-raising square in the village, which was located within the University district of the city of Beijing, China's political and culture center. Athletes of volleyball, judo, water-polo and men's soccer teams had moved into the athletes dorms. China will send 256 athletes to compete in all the 12 sports featured in the Games, which to start on August 222. Zhang Jianmin, mayor of the Universiade Village, expressed warm welcome to the Chinese delegation on the ceremony, saying the village is always ready to offer the best service to the delegations. A total of 168 countries and regions have registered in the Games, with more to move into the village in the next few days. |
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