China form 64-athlete delegation to Sportaccord Combat Games

The State General Administration of Sport (SGAS) on Tuesday launched the Chinese delegation to the Sportaccord Combat Games which is to open on Aug. 28.

The Games, which will run through to Sept. 4, features 13 martial arts and combat sports, both Olympic and non-Olympic.

Sixty-four Chinese athletes will take part in nine sports, namely, wrestling, judo, boxing, taekwondo, karate, Wushu (Taolu and Sanda), Muay Thai boxing, kickboxing and kendo.

Spearheading the Chinese delegation are Olympic boxing champion Zou Shiming and taekwondo Olympic gold medalist Wu Jingyu.

"We would help promote communication and friendship rather than fight for medals during the Games," said chef-de-mission Xiao Tian.

Xiao, also a SGAS deputy director, noted Japan and South Korea have already built their delegations.

Xiao promised to send a "clean" Chinese team to the games.

"The Chinese sports authorities have zero tolerance for doping," he said.

The 2010 Sportaccord Combat Games will attract 3,000 athletes from all over the world, most of them ranked among top 20 in their sports.

Source: Xinhua