Wang Yudong of Zhejiang FC competes during a Chinese Super League match. [Photo/The official news website of Taizhou]

Zhejiang FC players Wang Yudong and Liu Haofan have been selected for China's U23 men's soccer squad for the Asian Games. Both players have established themselves as regular starters in the league this season, with Wang scoring eight goals and providing six assists, while Liu has delivered steady defensive performances.

Born in November 2006, Wang studied at Taizhou Xueyuan Road Primary School and Jiaojiang No 5 Middle School in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province, before joining Taizhou Ostrich FC in June 2018. He was selected for China's U17 national team in 2019 and became a regular member of national teams at different age levels from 2021, while also training and playing with Zhejiang FC. Wang officially signed with Zhejiang FC in July 2023.

China is seeded in the tournament's top tier and will face the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Group B, facing a tough challenge to advance. China's Asian Games team had struggled to reach the quarterfinals since the 2006 Doha Asian Games, before making its quarterfinal return at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Finishing top of Group B would help China avoid Japan in the knockout stage, making first place a key target.

The men's soccer tournament will begin on Sept 15, with China opening its campaign against the DPRK on Sept 16 before facing Iran and the UAE. China reached the final of the AFC U23 Asian Cup earlier this year, ending a 22-year wait to reach the title match. The team's performance at the Asian Games will therefore be closely watched.