BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
1. Hangzhou marks 200-day countdown to Asian Para Games
The torch designed for the 4th Asian Para Games Hangzhou 2022 is seen during the ceremony in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province on Oct. 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
The Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games welcomed its 200-day countdown on Wednesday. The organizers announced that all of the 19 competition venues are ready. Among these venues, 17 will be used by the Asian Games, which starts on September 23.
The Asian Para Games will be held from October 22 to 28, featuring 22 sports and 564 disciplines.
2. FISU acting president looks forward to unique experience in Chengdu
Leonz Eder, acting president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), visited competition venues and Athletes' Village for Chengdu Universiade from March 28 to 31, 2023. (Liu Haiyun/Xinhua)
International University Sports Federation (FISU) acting president Leonz Eder gave thumbs up for the preparation for the Chengdu Universiade and the rich culture of the host city.
"Participants will enjoy their unique experience in the upcoming Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games. The visitors will enjoy not only the sport competitions but also the educational activities, including FISU World Conference and Chengdu's city culture," he told Xinhua after returning from his four-day visit to Chengdu for the Heads of Delegation Meeting.
The Chengdu Games, which was originally scheduled to take place in 2021, will be held on July 28-August 8 this year.
3. China's women's basketball team coach Zheng vows to go all out
Zheng Wei, head coach of China, gestures during the quarterfinal against France at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney, Australia on Sept. 29, 2022. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)
China women's basketball team head coach Zheng Wei says the team will go all out in preparation for the FIBA Women's Asia Cup and Asian Games.
China, who equaled their best record in major competitions by finishing as runners-up at last year's FIBA Women's World Cup, assembled in Qingyuan, south China's Guangdong Province to gear up for the two continental competitions to be held later this year.
"We will put in 100 percent effort even though there is only a 1 percent chance for us," said Zheng.
4. China announces roster for table tennis worlds in Durban
Fan Zhendong celebrates winning the men's singles final against Ma Long at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Singapore Smash in Singapore on March 19, 2023. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)
China will send a strong squad for the Table Tennis Championships Finals Durban with the goal to sweep all five gold medals.
Fan Zhendong, Ma Long, Wang Chuqin, Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan will participate in the men's singles, while the women's singles participants include Sun Yingsha, Chen Meng, Wang Manyu, Wang Yidi and Chen Xingtong.
The two pairs that will contend in the men's doubles are Fan Zhendong/Wang Chuqin and Lin Gaoyuan/Lin Shidong.
Two women's doubles pairs to feature in Durban are the reigning champions Sun Yingsha/Wang Manyu and Chen Meng/Wang Yidi.
Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha will defend their title in the mixed doubles in Durban, and they are joined by young pair Lin Shidong/Kuai Man.
5. Kenyan, Ethiopian runners win at Xiamen Marathon
Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba of Kenya competes during the 2023 Xiamen Marathon on April 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Kenyan Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba and Ethiopian Meseret Abebayehu Alemu took the men's and women's title respectively at the 2023 Xiamen Marathon, which attracted 35,000 runners.
A touching moment came when He Shuai covered the 42km distance for his late father He Ming, who had vowed to complete 100 marathons despite being a stage 4 lung cancer patient and finished his 61st and last marathon in Xiamen in 2020.
6. 7 clubs barred from Chinese football leagues over wage arrears
Han Xuan of Wuhan Yangtze River reacts during a 2022 season Chinese Super League (CSL) match against Cangzhou Mighty Lions in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province on Sept. 29, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Seven football clubs have been disqualified from league registration for failing to pay wage arrears, according to the statement released by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) on Thursday.
The clubs are Wuhan Yangtze River, Guangzhou City, Hebei FC, Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic, Beijing BSU, Zibo Cuju and Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard.
According to the CFA statement, the players concerned may unilaterally terminate the contracts and those loaned to such clubs should return to their original clubs.
7. Table tennis legend Liu Guoliang re-elected as CTTA president
Liu Guoliang delivers a speech after his re-election as the president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) in Beijing on April 6, 2023. (Photo courtesy of CTTA)
Table tennis legend Liu Guoliang has been unanimously re-elected as the president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) after serving his first term from 2018 to 2023.
"I'm thrilled to be re-elected while also feeling more pressure and a sense of responsibility," said Liu, who swept a "Grand Slam" of Olympic, World Championships and World Cup singles titles in his playing career and served as the chief coach of the Chinese national team.
Liu emphasized that 2023 is a crucial year as the Chinese team is making a final push in its preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and revealed that the team's roster for the Paris Olympics is expected to take shape by the end of the year.■
