BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- China will send a 286-strong delegation to the 12th Paralympic Games next month in Athens, the China Paralympic Committee announced on Wednesday.

    Listed in the Chinese contingent are 200 athletes including 90 female competitors, which registers the largest Chinese turnout at the quadrennial event since China's Paralympics debut in Los Angeles in 1984.

    The Chinese athletes from 29 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps average at 26 years in age. It is one year younger than that of the Chinese athletes for Sydney in 2000.

    China will have athletes in 284 disciplines covering 11 sports out of the 19 sports listed on the Games program in Athens.

    China had 87 Paralympic athletes in Sydney, winning 34 gold medals to rank sixth, as well as 22 silver and 16 bronze medals for a medal tally of 72.

    In Athens, China targets at improving the final gold medal and medal tally rankings from Sydney and, probably more import, having their athletes more matured for the 2008 Games in Beijing where they will play hosts. Enditem