China has announced a 22-strong badminton team for the Athens Olympics, with former world No. 1 men's singles player Chen Hong making the list the last minute.

Chen Hong, who now ranks 2nd in the world, joins two other top Chinese shuttlers, Lin Dan and Bao Chunlai in the men's singles line-up.

Meanwhile, Sydney Olympic bronze medallist Xia Xuanze, who was favored to get an Olympic seat, was downgraded to a reserve position as only three players could be sent by each country in one event.

In women's singles, the roster includes three of the world's top ranking players, Gong Rui'na, Zhang Ning and Zhou Mi.

China also has three pairs slotted for women's doubles, and two pairs each for men's doubles and mixed doubles.

Chinese badminton players grabbed four gold medals at the Sydney Games four years ago.

(CRI July 15, 2004)