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Home News With Under Two Weeks to the Universiade, the Torch Relay Reaches Easternmost Cape

With Under Two Weeks to the Universiade, the Torch Relay Reaches Easternmost Cape

Multisports 8 August 2017

 

 

SANDIAOJIAO LIGHTHOUSE IN NEW TAIPEI CITY – The Universiade torch relay continued its journey from Torino to Taipei City as the flame made its way back to the northern end of the island in its most recent stops.

 The New Taipei City torch relay started from the Sandiaojiao Lighthouse

 

 

On Sunday, torchbearers carried the flame through Taoyuan City, one of the main partner cities of the Taipei Summer Universiade. Of the 21 medal sports during the 12 days of competition, seven events and two training grounds will take place in Tayoyuan City.

 

 Jin-Bang Lin, a basketball forward for the Chinese Taipei team, carries the torch by the Taiyuan Arena

Taekwondo competitors will compete at Taoyuan Arena, while archery, swimming and water polo will take place at National Taiwan Sport University. One of the football venues is at Chang Gung University, with volleyball at the Army Academy and golf at Sunrise Golf & Country Club.

 

 

During non-competition days, both athletics and swimming athletes also may use training venues in the area. With the effort and assistance of Taoyuan City Government, seven venues in the area have been renovated and are ready to provide excellent facilities for spectators, athletes and coaches.

 

The flame is passed between torchbearers at the Taiyuan International Baseball Stadium 

Standout athlete Li-Ru Chen helped carry the flame. Chen won bronze in the archery women’s team event at the 2004 Athens Olympics and followed up on this success with a gold medal performance at the Belgrade Summer Universiade 2009 in the recurve bow women’s team event.

 

 

From Taoyuan City, the flame made its way to the Sandiaojiao Lighthouse. The scenic views and soft sea breeze along the coast of the East China Sea made for a fitting backdrop to start the day’s relay.

 

 

From the lighthouse’s perch on the easternmost perch of the island, torchbearers carried the flame along the Coastal Highway to one of the island’s best diving spots.

 

 

Helping carry the flame was Qian-Ying Lei. Nicknamed the Mother of Thunder, Lei will compete for the Chinese Taipei Archery Team at this year’s Universiade.

 

Qian-Ying Lei leaves the lighthouse for the Coastal Highway 

Lei comes into the Taipei Universiade as one of the host country’s most decorated performers, having won a bronze medal at both the 2011 Universiade and 2016 Rio Olympics. Taipei will mark her fourth – and last – Universiade.

 

 

“Being able to compete with all those great young athletes in my home country, it’s a huge pressure but also a great honor,” Lei said. “I hope I can adjust my body well and give the best performance. I will certainly enjoy the game, meanwhile, trying to keep that gold medal in my country.”

 

 

The torch relay heralds the start of the Universiade and began overseas when the flame was lit at a ceremony in Turin, Italy on June 20. From there the flame traveled to four cities in three countries over 10 days before making its way to Chinese Taipei. The torch relay is now nearing its home stretch as it links 22 counties and cities throughout the host country.