BEIJING, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines over the past week:
1. Young Chinese team pockets a gold and a bronze at Short Track Speed Skating World Cup
Skaters of the Chinese mixed relay team and head coach Zhang Jing (3rd R) pose after winning the mixed relay at Short Track Speed Skating World Cup in Salt Lake City, on Nov. 5, 2022.
China faced big injury troubles prior to the Short Track Speed Skating World Cup Salt Lake City leg as leading skaters Wang Ye and Gong Li sat out due to cold and fever, while Lin Xiaojun suffered a waist injury.
However, the new Chinese mixed relay team of Li Wenlong, Zhang Chutong, Zhong Yuchen and Wang Xinran, with an average age of 21, won in two minutes and 37.153 seconds, beating South Korea by 0.028 seconds. And a day later, Li Wenlong, Li Kongchao, Liu Guanyi and Zhong Yuchen finished in six minutes and 37.054 seconds in the men's 5,000m relay, bringing China a bronze.
2. Yang Yang set for re-election as WADA vice president
China's former short track speed skater Yang Yang speaks after being elected as vice president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Katowice, Poland, Nov. 7, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhou Nan)
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) vice president Yang Yang of China confirmed that she is ready to run for another three-year term (2023-2025) in the position, with the world anti-doping governing body set to hold elections for a second term for the president and vice president.
3. Beijing Marathon kicks off after two-year hiatus
Runners start during the 2022 Beijing Marathon in the capital of China on Nov. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
The 2022 Beijing Marathon, the 40th edition since 1981, kicked off on Sunday (November 6) morning after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
About 20,000 runners set off from Tian'anmen Square to run to the destination in the Olympic Park, which was one of the main venues of the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
China's Anubaike Kuwan won the men's race in two hours 14 minutes and 34 seconds, while his compatriot, non-seeded Xia Yuyu claimed the women's title in 2:28:57.
4. China can "become world's biggest football nation", says Patrice Evra
France's Patrice Evra vies with Germany's Matthias Ginter during a quarterfinal of the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Estadio do Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 4, 2014. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)
Former Manchester United football star Patrice Evra said China could likely become "the world's biggest football nation" in the future.
"I think China can be one of the greatest nations of football if they really focus on it and invest in it," the 41-year-old told Xinhua. "It's a lot of sacrifice, and you're not going to do it in one day."
"(China) has a huge football potential," Spanish La Liga president Javier Tebas echoed.
5. China's Wu Chengshu joins Australia's Canberra United
Australia's A-League Women side Canberra United announces the signing of Chinese midfielder Wu Chengshu from China's Women's Super League member Jiangsu Suning FC in Canberra, Australia on Nov. 10, 2022. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
Canberra United on Thursday (November 10) announced the signing of Chinese midfielder Wu Chengshu for the new season of Australia's women's football top flight.
The 26-year-old player is a regular starter for the Chinese national team, scoring an important goal in China's win over Japan in February's AFC Asian Cup semifinal.
Chris Gardiner, chief executive of Canberra United, described the signing as a landmark moment for the club.
Wu will become the first Chinese international to play for the club and is the second to sign for an A-League Women side for the 2022-2023 season after Xiao Yuyi joined Adelaide United earlier this month.
6. Olympic champion Zou wins parallel bars gold at gymnastics worlds
China's Zou Jingyuan poses with his gold medal during the awarding ceremony for the men's parallel bars final at the 51st FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Liverpool, Britain on Nov. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
China's Olympic champion Zou Jingyuan showed his dominance on the parallel bars by winning the event at the 51st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.
Zou performed his routine in the final with an unparalleled difficulty score of 6.9 points and took the gold with 16.166 points.
7. China wins breathtaking Asian qualifier against Iran
Wang Zhelin of China dunks during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian qualifier against hosts Iran in Teheran on Nov. 11, 2022. (Neda Safari/Iran Basketball Federation via Xinhua)
China powered past hosts Iran 81-72 on Friday evening in a breathtaking Asian qualifier en route to the FIBA 2023 Basketball World Cup.
China now have garnered 16 points from nine matches (seven wins and two losses) and ranked second in Group F, having a bright advancing opportunity.
If China secured a World Cup berth, it will be its second consecutive World Cup appearance after hosting the flagship competition in 2019.■
