Feng’s mother believes China can perform well beyond its traditionally strong disciplines that include table tennis and badminton.

“The US thinks it has an edge in flag football – that’s why they applied for its inclusion in the next Olympics. Flag football not only depends on (their) physical abilities, but also on strategy and teamwork,” she said.

The selection for the national team will come from various aspects, according to Xinhua news agency quoting Liu Fuheng, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Rugby Football Association, the sport’s governing body in China.

This could include some rugby players who make the switch to flag football, and talent scouted from sport schools and other outstanding athletes.

US DOMINANCE IN FLAG FOOTBALL

While still a relatively unfamiliar sport in China, flag football is hugely popular in the US.

The 2028 host already has a well-established ecosystem for American football, a more contact-heavy variant of the sport.