By Duncan Mackay

China, who have topped the Asian Games medals table at every event since 1982, will a delegation of nearly 900 athletes to Incheon 2014 ©AFP/Getty ImagesChina are set to send the biggest delegation to next month's Asian Games in Incheon as the deadline for countries to submit their teams was reached.


South Korean officials said all 45 countries eligible to compete had registered their delegations for the Games, due to open on September 19 and last until October 4. 

That included neighbours North Korea. 

The lists will be finalised after a review by the Asian governing bodies of individual sports and by the Olympic Council of Asia. 

Under the OCA Constitution and Rules, participants in the Games must submit their lists of athletes 30 days before the start of the event. 

In total, 9,757 athletes from 45 countries have registered and will be contesting the 439 golds in 36 sports.

By countries, China leads the pack with 899 athletes, followed by South Korea with 831 and Japan with 717.

These three nations have finished 1-2-3 in the medal standings in each of the past four Asian Games.

China has topped the medal table in every Asian Games since New Delhi 1982.

At Guangzhou four years ago they won a total of 416 medals, including a record 199 gold. 

According to Incheon 2014, Brunei submitted 11 athletes, the fewest among 45 countries.

North Korea has registered 150 athletes, they added.

The total number of entries is about eight per cent higher than originally estimated, but Incheon 2014 claimed that they would be able to handle the extra athletes and officials.

The Games will feature all 28 Olympic sports and eight others, including baseball, bowling and cricket, that are not part of the Olympic programme. 

A total of 48 venues in and around Incheon will host the Asian Games, including the 61,818-seat Incheon Asiad Main Stadium, which will stage the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

South Korea have finished runners-up in the last four Asian Games, including at Guangzhou 2010, when their gold medallists included Baekcheol Shin and Hyojung Lee, winners of the mixed doubles badminton ©Getty ImagesSouth Korea have finished runners-up in the last four Asian Games, including at Guangzhou 2010, when their gold medallists included Baekcheol Shin and Hyojung Lee, winners of the mixed doubles badminton ©Getty Images

South Korea has finished second on the medals table in each of the past four Asian Games, with Japan coming in third place.

With China realistically out of reach, South Korea is hoping to extend its streak of runner-up finishes.

South Korea won 93 gold medals at Seoul 1986 and 96 at Busan 2002, the two earlier Asian Games held on its home soil.

At Guangzhou 2010 they won a total of 232 medals, including 76 gold. 

"We have performed at a world class level at major multisport competitions and established ourselves as an athletic powerhouse," said Kim Jung-haeng, President of the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC).

"We have demonstrated our prowess in Asian Games in particular."

Park Soon-ho, head of the Korea Sailing Federation and the Chef de Mission of his country's team at Incheon 2014, is optimisic that the home country will fulfil expectations.

"Today, we have a group of athletes as talented as any that had competed before," Park said.

"I am looking forward to the Asian Games and I have full confidence in our team."

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