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China at the 2008 Summer Paralympics | |
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IPC code | CHN |
NPC | China Administration of Sports for Persons with Disabilities |
Website | www |
in Beijing | |
Competitors | 332 in 20 sports |
Flag bearer | Wang Xiaofu |
Medals Ranked 1st |
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Summer Paralympics appearances (overview) | |
China was the host of the 2008 Summer Paralympics, held in Beijing. China's delegation included 547 people, of whom 332 were competitors. The athletes, 197 men and 135 women, ranged in age from 15 to 51 and competed in all twenty sports.[1] 226 of the competitors participated in the Paralympic Games for the first time.[2] The delegation was the largest in Chinese history[2] and at the 2008 Games.[3] China topped the medal count at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens. China dominated the medal count winning the most gold, silver, bronze, and total medals by a wide margin in Beijing.
During the games, some Chinese Paralympians broke 62 world and Paralympic records in athletics, swimming, powerlifting, shooting, cycling and archery. Strong Chinese contenders were Wang Xiaofu and Li Hanhua (swimming), Guo Wei (shot put and javelin), and Zhang Haidong (powerlifting).[4] Olympic competitors will also include Li Duan in the men's long jump.[1] Zhang Xiaoling, ten time gold medallist in table tennis was competing at the Paralympics for the sixth and last time. She won a bronze medal in the women's singles.[5]
Rowing made its Paralympic debut in Beijing, and the Chinese team competed in eight other Paralympic sports for the first time: equestrian, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, sailing, boccia, goalball, football 5-a-side and football 7-a-side.[2]