BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
1. Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games celebrates 200-day countdown
Mascots of the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games Chen Chen, Cong Cong, Lianlian (L to R). (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)
The 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 celebrated its 200-day countdown on Tuesday with the release of official promotion song "Now until the Future".
So far, all the 56 competition venues for the Asian Games and the Asian Para Games are ready. Some of the competition venues have hosted test events, most of which have been open to the public since July 1, 2022.
China's athletes across a wide range of sports are seizing every second in their preparations amid hopes of shining at the quadrennial Games.
2. China advances to U20 Asian Cup quarterfinals
Yang Minjie, Hu Hetao and Mutellip Iminqari (L to R) of China celebrate after the Group D match against Kyrgyzstan of AFC U20 Asian Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, March 9, 2023. (Photo by Che Zhouyong/Xinhua)
China opened their U20 Asian Cup campaign with a 2-1 loss to Japan, then defeated Saudi Arabia 2-0 before drew 1-1 with Kyrgyzstan. With four points, China ranked second in Group D, advancing to the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time since 2014.
China will face South Korea in the quarterfinals on Sunday.
3. China women's basketball coach aims high at Paris 2024 Olympics
Zheng Wei, head coach of China, gestures during the quarterfinal match against France at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney, Australia, on Sept. 29, 2022. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)
Head coach of China's women's basketball team Zheng Wei steered her squad to second place at the FIBA Women's World Cup last year, tying the country's best record in the tournament. In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Zheng vowed to match that performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and underlined the glorious traditions of the team - unity, cooperation, selfless dedication, and never giving up.
4. China's Liang, Wang claim WTT Star Contender Goa titles
Liang Jingkun celebrates during the men's singles final against Lin Shidong at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender Goa 2023 on March 5, 2023. (Photo courtesy of WTT)
Chinese paddlers Liang Jingkun and Wang Yidi emerged as winners in the men's and women's singles respectively at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender Goa 2023 on Sunday.
Liang won three games in a row from 2-1 down to get past his compatriot Lin Shidong 4-2 to be crowned men's singles champion.
In the women's singles final, top seed Wang won four games (11-6, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4) in a row against Cheng I-ching of Chinese Taipei.
5. Wu Yibing makes history as first male Chinese mainland player to win a match at oversea Masters
Wu Yibing returns the ball during the match against Jaume Munar at the Indian Wells Masters on March 9, 2023. (Photo courtesy of ATP Tour)
Chinese wildcard Wu Yibing came from one-set down to beat Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-7 (6), 6-0, 7-6 (3) in a round of 128 clash in his debut at the Indian Wells Masters. He thus became first male Chinese mainland player to win a match at an oversea ATP Masters 1000 event.
Wu Yibing became the first Chinese mainland player to lift an ATP Tour trophy after winning the Dallas Open title in February.■
