Recently, the documentary series “Ode to the Spirit of Chinese Sports”, produced by the Chinese Olympic Committee, premiered on CCTV Sports Channel. One episode, “Precision in Every Dimension”, features Donghua University’s research team’s dedication to developing core materials for the high-performance domestic shooting apparel system, highlighting the use of domestically produced gear by Chinese athletes.

Traditionally, the specialized attire worn by rifle shooters, known as “leather suits”, which includes shooting jackets, pants, shoes, and gloves, has been dominated by manufacturers from India, Germany, the Czech Republic, and South Korea. Consequently, the development of high-performance professional shooting competition gear tailored for the Chinese national team has become an urgent issue to address.

Commissioned by the Department of Sports Science and Physical Education of the General Administration of Sport of China and the Shooting and Archery Sports Management Center, a task force was formed. This team includes the State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials at Donghua University, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, the China Institute of Sport Science, National Advanced Functional Fibers Innovation Center, Tongji University, and Renben International. They are conducting multidisciplinary and innovative research to solve the critical challenges in shooting apparel systems, in accordance with the rules of the International Shooting Sport Federation.

(The team initiated innovative research by focusing on the most critical materials)

“Starting with the most critical and core materials.” Under this guidance, Professor Zhu Meifang, the academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, director of the State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials at Donghua University and dean of the College of Materials Science and Engineering as well as Researcher Wang Gang, the chief scientist of a national key R&D program and a member of the College of Materials Science and Engineering at Donghua University, led the team. They tackled key challenges such as the design and mass production of high-hardness, high-rebound core materials. Through continuous efforts with partner institutions, they achieved innovations in fiber preparation technology, developed high-performance adhesives, produced standard-compliant shooting fabric, created clothing with Chinese elements, and facilitated the mass production of garments, thereby boosting the domestic development and manufacturing of shooting competition attire.

Over the coure of more than two years, spanning 800 days and nights, the project underwent multiple phases with continuous testing, optimization, and improvement of four generations of apparel.In the process of advancement, the spirit of science and sports was deeply ingrained in the hearts of every team member, fostering a foundation of serving the nation through science and overcoimg difficulties. The spirit will transform into a great motivational force for building a strong nation powered by education, technology, and sports.