China announces badminton squad for Tokyo Olympics

China's Chen Long competes during the men's singles gold medal match of badminton between China's Chen Long and Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

China announces a 14-player squad for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, with Rio champion Chen Long and women's singles sensation Chen Yufei spearheading the roster.

BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Badminton Association announced its 14-player squad for the Tokyo Olympic Games here on Wednesday.

Rio champion Chen Long will defend the men's singles crown in his third Olympics, while Chen Yufei is chasing for her first-ever Olympic gold in the women's singles, the same for Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong in the mixed doubles.

According to the BWF rules, any member NOC may enter up to a maximum of two players or two pairs in each of the five events, provided its players are ranked in the top 16 of singles events or in the top eight of doubles events. China has won qualification berths for all except the men's doubles, where Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen become the lone duo as they ranked third in the Olympic qualifications.

Chen Yufei of Zhejiang returns the shuttle during the final of women's singles event against Han Yue of Fujian at the 2021 Chinese National Badminton Championships in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, May 2, 2021. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)

Among the 14 Chinese badminton players qualified for the Games, Chen Long and Shi Yuqi will feature in the men's singles, and world No.2 Chen Yufei, who led the Olympic points tally, will compete in the women's singles, together with He Bingjiao.

The women's doubles will see two Chinese pairs of Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan and Du Yue/Li Yinhui. As for the mixed doubles, Zheng/Huang and Wang Yilv/Huang Dongping, the world's top two pairs, will represent China to vie for the top honor.