BEIJING: Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
- Hangzhou Asian Para Games medals unveiled with 100 days to go
With 100 days to go before the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, the design of medals were revealed on July 14 at an event held at Fuyang Water Sports Center.
The medals, named “Osmanthus Grace,” draw inspiration from Liangzhu Jade and the sweet osmanthus, Hangzhou’s city flower that blooms in the fall. The design embodies the sportsmanship of reaching great heights through diligence and self-challenge.
The obverse of the medal features the emblem of the Hangzhou Asian Para Games at the center, encircled by osmanthus flowers.
On the reverse, the emblem of the Asian Paralympic Committee is at the heart, surrounded by Braille denoting the 4th Asian Para Games gold/silver/bronze medal.
- China to send 411 athletes for Chengdu Universiade
China announced on July 12 a delegation including 411 athletes for the 31st FISU World University Games to be held in Chengdu from July 28 to August 8.
The Chinese delegation is composed of over 700 people, and 411 athletes from over 100 universities in 25 provinces across the country will participate in all 18 events.
The average age of athletes is 22.9 years old. Among the 206 male athletes and 205 female athletes, 387 will make their debuts at the summer Universiade in Chengdu. 344 are representing China for the first time at an international event, and 34 have participated in the Olympics.
As the preparation for the Games enters final sprint, the Main Media Center of Chengdu Universiade started trial operation on July 13.
- China defeats Brazil, to battle Poland in VNL Finals semis
China emerged victorious over Brazil 25-21, 25-20, 20-25, and 25-23 in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) tournament held in Arlington, Texas on July 13.
Li Yingying, the 23-year-old outside hitter, topped the team with 16 points, while 26-year-old Gong Xiangyu contributed 14 in offense.
The 2016 Olympic champions will face top-seeded Poland in the semifinals on July 15, and Chinese coach Cai Bin affirmed his team “will adjust accordingly based on Poland’s offense and their whole playing system.”
- China bags five golds at Asian Athletics Championships after Day 3
The Chinese track and field team has claimed five gold medals at the 25th Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, Thailand after three competition days on July 14.
Liang Xiaojing, Wei Yongli, Yuan Qiqi and Ge Manqi took an opening victory for China in women’s 4x100m relay final with a time of 43.35 seconds on July 12.
In the men’s hammer throw final on July 13, Wang Qi clinched the gold with his fourth attempt of 72.13m, while the women’s gold went to Zhao Jie, who recorded 69.39m with her second attempt.
Feng Bin easily won the women’s discus title with a throw of 66.42 meters on Day 3, breaking her own championships record. In the women’s pole vault final, Li Ling took the gold medal with 4.66 meters.
- Paredes Zapata leads Tour of Qinghai Lake after stage 6
Wilmar Andres Paredes Zapat, riding for Colombia’s Medellin, continued to lead the overall standings after stage 6 of the 2023 Tour of Qinghai Lake, wearing the yellow jersey he obtained after stage 3.
The Colombian registered an aggregate time of 24 hours 21 minutes and 44 seconds with two stages to go, followed by Davide Baldaccini from Corratec Selle Italia (24:22:20) and Antonio Eric Fagundez Lima from Burgos-BH (24:22:25).
Henok Mulueberhan and Alessio Nieri, both riding for Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizane, held onto the green jersey and the polka-dot jersey after stage 6, while China Glory Continental Cycling Team’s Lyu Xianjing kept the Best Asian Rider’s blue jersey.
