81 Chinese athletes to compete in maiden Asian Youth Games

BEIJING, May 20 (Xinhua) -- 81 athletes from China are poised to compete in the first Asian Youth Games ever to be opened in Singapore on June 29, the Chinese delegation head Cui Dalin said on Tuesday.

"81 athletes are going to compete in the Asian Youth Games slated for next month, comprising of 49 men and 32 women athletes in the 135-member delegation," said Cui, the delegation chief, in the mobilization convention here.

"We would like to take the advantage of the Games to set up ladder buildup of sustainable progress for China's sport. It's a prep forum for our participation for the 2010 World Youth Olympics," added Cui.

The athletes for the Asian Youth Games age in a scope of 14 to 17 and are going to compete in nine sports consisting of 68 disciplines, including soccer, beach volleyball, three-player basketball, shooting, track and field, bowling, swimming and diving, sailing and table tennis.

The Asian Youth Games is to be unveiled on June 29 and last until July 7 to stage around 2100 athletes from 45 countries and regions.