BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines over the past week:
1. Chinese winter sports athletes aiming for 2026 Olympics
Qi Guangpu of China celebrates after winning the freestyle skiing men's aerials final of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)
For Chinese winter sports athletes, the new ski season after Beijing 2022 is earmarked as one to prepare for the next Winter Olympics.
Cross-country skiing, biathlon and snowboarding athletes in northeast China's Jilin Province are polishing their skills amid frosty days and pressing for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Young blood like 16-year-old Zhang cross-country skier Hangshuo eager to compete in Milan, while veteran Qi Guangpu, who clinched the men's aerials gold at the Beijing Winter Games, is also likely to be up for his fifth Olympic appearance.
2. Chinese paddlers lead 2023's first ITTF world rankings
Fan Zhendong of Shanghai serves during the men's team semifinal match against Wei Shihao of Heilongjiang at the 2022 Chinese National Table Tennis Championships in Huangshi, central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
China's Fan Zhendong and Sun Yingsha maintained their top places in the first International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings of 2023.
Fan and compatriots Ma Long and Wang Chuqin completed the top three men's singles places.
In the women's singles category, China's Sun, Chen Meng, Wang Manyu and Wang Yidi are ranked first to fourth.
3. Chinese female footballer Li Jiayue joins Galatasaray SK
Li Jiayue (R) of China vies with Su Yu-Hsuan of Chinese Taipei during their group A match at the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Mumbai, India, Jan. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)
Chinese female footballer Li Jiayue from Shanghai Shengli has joined Galatasaray SK of Turkey.
Born on June 8, 1990, Li served as a defender in the national team and helped China win the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup. In 2014, Li joined the South Korean club Suwon Samsung Bluewings and was rated as the most valuable player in the K-League.
4. Winter sports businesses spur more jobs in NE China
Ski coach Zhang Zhanhua (3rd R) teaches skiing at the Lake Songhua Resort in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, Nov. 20, 2022. Jilin Province is taking advantage of its ice-snow resources in winter as it seeks new growth drivers for rural development. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)
An influx of visitors to ski resorts is bringing more jobs to China's winter sports industry, as the new ski season in northeast China's Jilin Province is in full swing.
Benefitting from the Beijing Winter Olympics, winter sports have caught on across China. Zhang Zhanhua, a 38-year-old former farmer, noticed that visitors were piling into ski resorts nearby and transited his career as a full-time skiing coach.
The growing interest in skiing has also boomed the industry of ski gear rental services, kit maintenance and delivery services.
5. Beijing Workers' Stadium turns to international standard professional football arena
Photo taken on Jan. 6, 2023 of the renovated Beijing Workers' Stadium. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
The multi-purpose Beijing Workers' Stadium, built in 1959 to mark the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, has turned into an international standard professional football stadium.
After the two-year renovation, the stadium is able to run games under extreme weather conditions, and the position of the closest stands will be only 8.5 meters away from the pitch after the removal of the runway. In addition, the number of seats for the audience will be increased to nearly 68,000.
The original oval shape, exterior facade, and characteristic features of the stadium are kept, and some important elements such as sculptures and decorations, are preserved and restored. ■
