In the last three Olympic Games, 2008, 2012 and 2016, the United States has won 128 gold, 104 silver and 105 bronze medals in comparison to China’s 112 gold, 71 silver and 78 bronze medals. The two arch-rivals have featured in the top three battling one and another to establish dominance in the biggest sporting event every four years.

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However, it is the Americans who have been dominating the Chinese in the last two Olympic events – Rio and London. This year, the US announced a team of 613 athletes, the most in Olympic history outside of host nations and the second-largest in history. China will send 431 athletes to Tokyo as part of a 777-member delegation, its largest at an Olympics outside China, the Xinhua News Agency said. With Beijing placing its best foot forward, Washington DC is definitely going to feel the heat and the ladder will get unprecedentedly crowded at the top. 

Here are Chinese athletes who could give the US a run for their money at Tokyo Olympics 2020:

Shanshan Feng, golf:

Feng is the first Chinese woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the first Chinese winner of a major and the first from her country to reach the women’s world No 1. She won a bronze in 2016 when golf made its modern-era Olympic debut. Feng, 31, would definitely have her sight on the gold medal at Tokyo 2020. However, she would have to battle Xander Schauffele of the United States to achieve her target. Schauffele, 27, has maternal ties to Japan and would want to do her country and that side of her family proud by acing the Olympics. 

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Ma Long, table tennis

China has won the most Olympic medals, 28 golds, 17 silvers and eight bronze, in table tennis. The mainland claimed a clean sweep, four gold medals, at Rio 2016 with Ma Long and Ding Ning leading the charge with men’s and women’s titles respectively. 

Ma Long has won three Olympic golds so far and with a win in Tokyo, he will become the most decorated table tennis player ever. The 32-year-old won his third straight men’s singles title at the World Championship in 2019. Long is the fifth player to complete a career Grand Slam, that is a winning the Olympics, World Championships and World Cup. He is the first male player (and second overall) in the world to have won every singles title in table tennis. This year, Ma Long definitely is the favorite. However, the three-time Olympic gold medalist will be challenged by the Indian-origin duo of the US, Kanak Jha and Nikhil Kumar, later this month. 

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Wang Shun, swimming: 

Swimming is one sport that the United States has dominated since the beginning of the Olympic Games in 1896. American swimmers have won 217 gold medals to date, followed by Australia at 58. However, this year the strong American swimming team will be challenged by the likes of Wang Shun. 

According to reports, Shun broke the Olympic A-standard requirements in the 400-meter medley at the National Swimming Championships in May. 

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“Today’s game, I played well, I played my training level, I am very satisfied. I will continue to cheer and look forward to the next game can swim better,” he had said post the swim. Now, the stage is bigger and the Rio bronze medalist is aiming at nothing less than gold.