Asian Games 2018: Team China stars Lin Dan and Sun Yang headline ones to watch in Indonesia
The swimming sensation and the badminton veteran are just two of a host of mainland athletes ready to impress
China have a long history of dominating the medal table at the Asian Games and they head to Indonesia with a host of athletes primed to take gold.
They’ve got medal chances across the board but some of their athletes possess that extra-special edge that will have the crowd on the edge of their seats – here’s our five stars to watch.
Sun Yang, 26
Swimming: freestyle
Olympic gold: 2012 London 400m and 1,500m; 2016 Rio 200m
The triple Olympic gold medal winner is the biggest star in Jakarta, leading the Chinese legion against major rivals Japan in the pool. Four years ago in Incheon, Sun won three golds [400m and 1,500m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay] and was second in the 200m. Controversy followed though when Chinese authorities revealed Sun had “secretly” served a three-month doping ban before the Games. Sun will take part in four individual events in Jakarta – 200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m, and the 4x200m freestyle relay. If he is unbeaten, and coupled with his two gold at the 2010 Guangzhou Games, Sun will become China’s second highest gold medal winner in the Asiad, behind shooter Wang Yifu’s 14.