Topping both the gold and overall medal tables for the first time, China gave its best-ever performance at The World Games in Chengdu, officials of the Chinese delegation announced on Sunday.
China's 321 athletes competed in 152 events across 28 sports, capturing 36 gold, 17 silver and 11 bronze medals. The tally marks the country's best record since it began participating in The World Games, said Zhang Xin, deputy head of the delegation, at a press conference.
Held from Aug. 7 to 17 under the slogan "Boundless Sports, Countless Wonders," this year's Games was the first to take place on the Chinese mainland. China sent a 489-member delegation, its largest in the event's history.
Of the 36 gold medals, China secured 17 golds in traditional World Games events such as wushu, finswimming, trampoline, aerobics, sport climbing and billiards.
In new Olympic sports such as squash and flag football, Chinese athletes gained a lot of experience. In newer sports, the Chinese team also claimed gold medals in waterskiing, parkour, and breakdancing.
Chinese para-athletes earned five golds and one bronze across 10 events, making progress in disability sports.
"At this year's World Games, the number of events in which China won gold increased from 14 to 23. On the platform of the World Games, we realized the integrated and coordinated development of both Olympic and non-Olympic sports, while offering people more diverse options to engage in sports," said Zhang.
The World Games this year set participation and medal records, with 18 world records upset and athletes from 81 countries standing on the podium, the highest in the event's history.
China gives best show at World Games in Chengdu
