BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
1. China short track coach Zhang Jing keeps low key ahead of worlds
Zhang Chutong (L) of China communicates with Team China's head coach Zhang Jing (C) and coach Su Xiaohua after the Final A of women's 1000m race at the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating series in Dresden, Germany, Feb. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
China's short track speed skating coach Zhang Jing kept a low profile after a young line-up was unveiled for the upcoming 2023 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Seoul, South Korea.
The 10-member roster released on Wednesday includes five male athletes, with an average age of over 23 and five female athletes, an average of 21. Li Wenlong, Lin Xiaojun, Liu Guanyi, Song Jiahua and Zhong Yuchen will compete in the men's competition, while Gong Li, Wang Xinran, Wang Ye, Zang Yize and Zhang Chutong will take part in the women's.
2. Newly-appointed team China coach Jankovic eyeing 2026 World Cup despite challenges ahead
Aleksandar Jankovic (2nd L), newly-appointed head coach of Chinese men's football team, instructs players during a training session in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, March 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)
Newly-appointed Chinese men's football team head coach Aleksandar Jankovic said here on Wednesday that his target was to lead the squad to secure a spot for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition of the 48-team tournament, enabling at least eight Asian teams to enter the world football gala.
3. Chinese prodigy Zhou takes silver in snowboard superpipe at Winter Dew Tour
Zhou Yizhu (L) cheers with her supporters at Winter Dew Tour, February 25, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Dew Tour)
11-year-old Zhou Yizhu of China took a historic silver in the women's snowboard superpipe final at Winter Dew Tour in Copper Mountain, Colorado on Saturday.
As the youngest-ever Winter Dew Tour competitor, Zhou delivered a backside 720 and switch backside 720 on her first run, taking a score of 89.33 points. She stunned the crowd again with a combination of a backside 900, frontside 720 and switch backside 540 on her second attempt to take 90.66, winning the silver medal.
4. China men's basketball team cap off World Cup qualifiers by beating Iran
Zhou Qi (L) of China competes during the Group F match between China and Iran of FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers in Hong Kong, south China, Feb. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai)
China's men's basketball team beat Iran 86-74 here on Sunday in their last match of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
As China had already secured a berth at the 2023 FIBA World Cup prior to the sixth window period, head coach Aleksandar Djordjevic used Kazakhstan and Iran matches as opportunities to test line-ups. China wrapped up the World Cup Qualifiers in second place in Group F with 10 wins and two defeats.
5. China lose to Japan in the AFC U20 Asian Cup opener
Sherzat Nur (L) of China competes against Kuryu Matsuki of Japan during the AFC U20 Asian Cup Group D match between Japan and China in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on March 3, 2023. (Photo by Che Zhouyong/Xinhua)
Despite an early lead, China lost to Japan 2-1 with Naoki Kumata's brace in four minutes in their AFC U20 Asian Cup Group D opener in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Friday. China will face Saudi Arabia at Bunyodkor Stadium next Monday, and Kyrgyzstan at JAR Stadium on Thursday to conclude the group stage.
