Asia Pacific Games》71 athletes from Taiwan compete in Asia Pacific Games. Sports Minister Li Yang shares relay station planning

Sports Minister Li Yang (middle), Director of the Department of Adaptive Sports Lin Peijun (first from left) (Photo by reporter Wu Mengru)

[Reporter Wu Mengru/Taipei Report] The 2026 Asian Para Games will be held in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City, Japan from October 18 to 24. It is expected to host 18 sports categories. The Taiwan delegation will send a total of 71 athletes to compete in 12 sports categories. For the first time, the Sports Department has also built a "relay station" based on the Asian Games to provide complete logistical support for the athletes.

This year’s Taiwanese team is led by many players, including taekwondo player Xiao Xiangwen who won the gold medal at the last Asian Games in Hangzhou, as well as many players who are ranked number one in the world, such as the number one table tennis men’s singles Chen Boyan, the women’s doubles number one Lin Ziyu and Tian Xiaowen, the badminton women’s doubles number one Wu Yuyan and Cai Yilin, and the men’s doubles number one Fang Zhenyu and Pu Guiyu. In addition, track and field athletes Liu Yating and Wu Nongbin, who won bronze in the Asia Par Games in Hangzhou, and wheelchair tennis team Huang Zixuan and Huang Chuyin will also participate in the competition. There will also be many senior players on the team, including fitness sister Lin Zihui who has won two gold medals in the Par Games, table tennis player Cheng Mingzhi who has won two silver medals in the Par Games, and archery veteran Zeng Longhui, who has won two bronze medals in the Par Games, forming a representative team with both strength and experience.

In terms of the new generation, young rookies such as badminton player Lin Jiaxiang, judo player Cai Xinying, shooter Ji Fangzhi, swimmer Ye Fengyuan and table tennis player Xie Fei will also stand on the Asia Par Games stage for the first time.

This Asian Games is the first time to build a relay station based on the Asian Games. Li Yang, Minister of Sports, pointed out, "There are advance troops who have moved most of the devices and equipment on the second and third floors to the first floor. They are also looking at how to deal with the climbing and stairs because there are still some equipment that cannot be placed on the first floor. 16 vehicles are planned, including 13 general vehicles and 3 barrier-free vehicles, mainly for the use of the relay station." In addition, the National Sports Training Center and the National Sports Science Center jointly stationed 16 vehicles. Professionals provide comprehensive services such as physical training, sports protection, nursing care, sports physiology, sports psychology, sports nutrition and meal supply to ensure that players can compete in the best condition.

In terms of medical and sports support, a comprehensive logistics team consisting of 6 team doctors and 19 sports protectors and physical therapists has been specially established this year to provide players with all-weather health protection. Lin Peijun, the Department of Adaptive Sports, pointed out, “In view of the differences in physical and mental conditions of the Asia Pacific Games players, this time we have specially configured Six team doctors are accompanying them, providing medical protection and care that is different from that of ordinary Asian Games athletes in terms of urology and psychological consultation, and making relevant arrangements and reinforcements in the selection and selection. "In order to cope with the accommodation problems that have occurred in previous Asian Games, this time, in addition to the containers and hotels arranged by the conference, 20 rooms with a total of 40 beds have been reserved for related training and internal facilities needs.