BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday announced a 73-strong roster, led by Olympic champions Yang Jiayu and Gong Lijiao, for the 2025 World Athletics Championships from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan.

China features 41 men and 32 women across 33 events. Gong, 36, the most seasoned athlete in the squad, will return to the Japan National Stadium where she earned the women's shot put Olympic gold medal in 2021. It will be her 10th appearance at the worlds after having previously won two gold, two silver and four bronze medals.

Women's 20-kilometer race walk world record holder Yang, 29, took a convincing victory at last year's Paris Olympic Games. Despite not having competed in any individual races so far this year, Yang is aiming for her second world title, after having triumphed in 2017 in London.

China's team also includes 2022 women's discus world champion Feng Bin, and men's triple jump Olympic silver medalist Zhu Yaming, as well as Wu Ruiting, who leaped over 17.68 meters last month to break the men's triple jump Asian record that had stood for nearly 16 years.

Some debutants in the squad are also strong contenders for a podium finish. 18-year-old Zhang Jiale has broken the U20 women's hammer world record twice this season, registering a personal best of 77.24m to claim the national title last month. Race walker Ma Li, 25, will take part in the women's 20km and 35km events, with her 35km best of 2:40:49 ranking third in the world this season.  ■