“I’m part of a huge family, here at the YOG” – China’s LI Jiaman

“It wasn’t easy to win the place to represent China,” LI Jiaman explained, during the last day of practice at Nanjing. “It’s difficult to make the team.”

This event marks her fourth cap for China. She has competed at the last two World Archery Youth Championships, making the last 16 as a cadet in each and collecting team bronze at Wuxi 2013.

LI has also shot one senior competition: the second leg of the European Grand Prix in 2013. She won three medals there: individual and mixed team bronze, and team silver.

The biggest difference she sees between the Games and other archery tournaments is the amount of show production and extra activities. “I feel the entertainment elements much more,” she said.

That, and that she didn’t have to travel out of the country.

Jiaman lives in Beijing. Her family, unfortunately, don’t have time to make the 10-hour trip to Nanjing – but that doesn’t matter to the young Chinese girl: “I’m part of a huge family, here at the YOG.”

“So many athletes from different countries across the world. It’s a real experience to be part of a Chinese team made of all different sports. I’m enjoying it.”

LI Jiaman is host-country China’s sole representative in the archery competition at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics. As the host of the Games, the nation automatically receives a quota spot in every competition – but can only accept 70 in total.

China accepted its girls’ archery place but declined its spot in the boy’s event.

Qualification for LI and the rest of the archery competitors takes place tomorrow morning in Nanjing, before team eliminations in the afternoon. Individual matches begin on Saturday.

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