Shi Yuqi competes at the Paris Olympic Games. [Photo/CFP]

Athletes from Nantong, Jiangsu province, are off to a strong start at the ongoing Paris Olympic Games, which kicked off three days ago, local media reported on July 30.

On July 27 (Beijing time), China's leading male singles player, Shi Yuqi, who hails from Nantong, made his first appearance against Soren Opti from Suriname in the men's singles group stage of the badminton event. Shi defeated his opponent 2-0 with scores of 21-5 and 21-7, achieving the first victory in the event.

Next, Shi will face Italian player Giovanni Toti and is expected to secure an easy victory, practically ensuring his advancement to the group's top seed. According to the regulations of the men's singles event at the Paris Olympics, after Shi secures the top spot in the group stage, he will receive a bye in the first round of the elimination matches, advancing directly to the quarterfinals.

In the Paris Olympics women's volleyball group stage, which ended on July 30 (Beijing time), the Chinese women's volleyball team narrowly defeated the American team 3-2 in the opening game. Nantong's national player Wu Mengjie came on as a substitute in the fourth set, contributing two points to the Chinese team with 4 spikes out of 2 attempts.

At 1:30 am on July 31 (Beijing time), Nantong epee fencer Xu Nuo will compete as a substitute member in the women's team epee gold medal match.