BEIJING: Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
- China edges New Zealand to clinch third place in basketball Supercup
Li Kaier made a crucial interception as China rallied from behind to edge New Zealand 69-68 at the 2023 Basketball Supercup in Hamburg on August 13.
With just under 10 seconds left, Li, the first naturalized player in Chinese basketball history, snatched New Zealand’s inbound pass, allowing the Chinese squad to run down the clock.
Li led China in scoring, laying the foundation for the comeback with 18 points.
- China’s pair skating Olympic champion Han Cong announces retirement
China’s pair skating Olympic champion Han Cong announced on August 15 that he will skip all competitions of the current Olympic cycle because of injury.
It means the 31-year-old Han and his 28-year-old partner Sui Wenjing will not be able to defend their Olympic title at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games.
“I am sorry to announce that I have decided to withdraw from all competitions in the Milan cycle. One and a half years after the Beijing Winter Olympics, I am still not fit to be back to the rink,” Han said on social media.
“I will keep working on figure skating, but in another way instead of being an athlete, and I wish all the best for Sui, who will be sure to pursue her own dream. We will still be the most solid partners for each other!” he added.
- Gong Lijiao eyes world shot put title in Budapest
China’s Olympic champion Gong Lijiao says she is going all out for her third women’s shot put world title in the 2023 World Athletics Championships, which opens on August 19.
The 34-year-old failed to defend her title last year in Oregon as Chase Ealey threw 20.49 meters to secure gold for the United States, leaving Gong to settle for a silver with a throw of 20.39 meters.
“I want to take back what I lost last year,” said Gong before coming to Budapest, adding that her goal is to surpass 20.50 meters.
- Wang Nan re-elected as World Athletics Council member
Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) vice director Wang Nan was elected as a World Athletics Council member for the second term at the 54th World Athletics Congress in Budapest on August 17.
Nearly 500 delegates from 195 member associations took part in the Congress and voted for a new council. Wang became the first Asian woman to be elected council member of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 2019.
- Olympic medalist Zhu aims for season best at World Athletics Championships
Tokyo Olympic triple jump silver medalist Zhu Yaming hoped to achieve his season best at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
“I can feel the pressure because the World Championships are such an important event for everyone. I tried to calm down. You can probably jump well yesterday, but nobody knows what will happen tomorrow,” said the 29-year-old.
As the bronze medalist in Eugene last year, Zhu jumped 17.36m in China’s National Athletics Championships in June, which Zhu believed was a new start for him.
