Top athletes ready to shine

Competing at home, with rousing local support, China's best will be hoping to get the season off to a winning start with some podium finishes in Xiamen, while evaluating their strengths and weaknesses against the world's finest in the lead-up to the big series finale in Zurich and September's Tokyo world championships.

An ambitious contingent of 16 Chinese athletes, led by men's 200m Asian record-holder Xie Zhenye, women's two-time shot put world champion Gong Lijiao and Paris 2024 women's discus silver medalist Feng Bin, will try to steal the show in Xiamen and Shaoxing.

As the meet's defending champion in Xiamen, veteran Gong, a three-time league final winner, will meet fierce competition from world No 1 Chase Jackson of the US at the Egret Stadium, where her compatriot Feng, discus winner at the 2022 worlds in Eugene, will seek revenge against her American archrival Valarie Allman, who edged her out to win gold in the Olympic final in Paris last summer.

On the track, Xie will continue to push his limits by attempting a demanding 100m and 200m sprint double over the course of the series, with his first test quickly approaching in Xiamen.

Xiamen's reigning 100m winner Christian Coleman of the US and defending 200m Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana are expected to bring out Xie's best early in the season.

The 31-year-old Xie, who was part of China's silver-winning 4x100m relay team at the Beijing worlds 10 years ago, remains committed to achieving every extra margin of improvement, however small, having experienced quite a few ups and downs.

"I feel that I still haven't been able to deliver my very best at the highest-profile international events. This keeps me motivated and eager to prove myself," said Xie, who hails from Shaoxing, host of the second leg.

"I will try to race in both 100m and 200m this season, and will see how far I can go leading up to the world championships and the National Games, which are my top priorities and biggest goals this season," said Xie, who sprinted to an Asian record of 19.88 seconds at a London meet in July 2019.

Other notable Chinese contenders who have qualified for the Xiamen opener are men's Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist triple jumper Zhu Yaming, women's star 100m hurdler Wu Yanni and Paris 2024 women's shot put bronze medalist Song Jiayuan.

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn