BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
1. China, Japan to meet in Women's Basketball Asia Cup final
Wang Siyu (L) of China shoots during the semifinal between China and Australia at the 2023 FIBA Women's Asia Cup in Sydney, Australia, July 1, 2023. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)
World number two China overcame hosts Australia 74-60 on July 1 to set up a mouth-watering final against Japan at the FIBA Women's Basketball Asia Cup in Sydney.
China will be out to end five-time defending champion Japan's stranglehold of the tournament in a blockbuster final on Sunday.
They will also be aiming to revenge after losing to Japan in the final of the last two Asia Cup finals, including a tense 78-73 defeat two years ago.
2. WBO interim champion Zhang Zhilei to face rematch against Britain's Joyce
Zhang Zhilei (top) of China celebrates after defeating Joe Joyce of Britain in their WBO heavyweight interim title boxing match in London, Britain, April 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
China's WBO interim heavyweight champion Zhang Zhilei will fight against British boxer Joe Joyce again in London on September 23.
Zhang, nicknamed Big Bang, defeated Joyce with a sixth-round technical knockout in London this April, snatching the WBO interim title from his then-undefeated opponent. But 37-year-old Joyce activated a rematch clause, aiming to reclaim the title.
3. Chengdu marks 30-day countdown to FISU World University Games
Singers and dancers perform during a ceremony for the 30-day countdown to the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on June 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)
As the 30-day countdown to the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games commenced, a flurry of vibrant celebratory activities ignited the host city of Chengdu in southwest China on June 29.
Chengdu will become the third city on the Chinese mainland to host the Summer Universiade, following Beijing in 2001 and Shenzhen in 2011.
The Chengdu 2021 Universiade will feature 269 events across 18 sports.
4. China's Yin Ruoning wins Women's PGA Championship
Yin Ruoning lifts her first Women's PGA Championship trophy (photo from LPGA's official Weibo account)
China's Yin Ruoning won the Women's PGA Championship for her first major title at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey on June 25.
The 20-year-old became only the second player from the Chinese mainland to win a major championship after Feng Shanshan, who grabbed the 2012 women's PGA title.
Yin bagged the 1.5 million U.S. dollars top prize after she finished at 8-under 276, beating Japan's Yuka Saso by one stroke.
5. Olympic equestrian Hua Tian gearing up for Hangzhou Asian Games
Alex Hua Tian of China and his horse perform during the equestrian dressage team and individual day 1 at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, July 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)
Chinese eventing rider Alex Hua Tian is set to compete on home soil for only the second time when the Hangzhou Asian Games opens in September, 15 years after his Olympic debut at Beijing 2008 in the Hong Kong SAR.
The star equestrian introduced his new slogan, "Rider in Red," at a press conference held in Beijing on June 14, ahead of the 100-day countdown to the 19th Asian Games.
Explaining his slogan, Hua Tian said it symbolizes the profound connection between horse and rider, which lies at the heart of horsemanship, and embodies his steadfast dedication to representing China. ■
