BEIJING, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
1. China finishes FIBA World Cup at 1-4, fails to qualify for Paris Olympics
Zhou Qi (R2) of China tips off during the classification round 17-32 match against the Philippines at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, Philippines on Sept. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
China suffered a 96-75 loss to the Philippines in the 17th-32nd classifications at the FIBA World Cup on September 2.
With a 1-4 win-loss record, China failed to become the highest-ranked Asian team in the tournament, and has therefore not directly qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
China completed a winless group phase, losing 105-63 to Serbia, 89-69 to South Sudan and 107-89 to Puerto Rico.
China's only victory at the World Cup came in beating Angola 83-76 on August 31.
2. Wang Xinyu makes US Open last 16
Wang Xinyu waves to the crowd after her women's singles third round match against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia at the 2023 US Open in New York on Sept. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
China's Wang Xinyu reached the last 16 in the singles category of the Grand Slam tournaments for the first time after rallying past Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 at the US Open on September 1.
Seven players from the Chinese mainland are competing in the tournament's singles events this year. All of them advanced to the second round, setting a new benchmark for Chinese tennis, and four moved into the last 32.
After enduring two full-set matches to dispatch Jeffrey John Wolf and fifth seed Casper Ruud, Zhang Zhizhen lost to Rinky Hijikata 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the men's singles third round.
In the women's singles third round, Zhu Lin conceded a 7-6 (1), 2-6, 6-3 loss to Belinda Bencic.
Wu Yibing, Wang Xiyu and Wang Yafan were knocked out in the second round.
Zheng Qinwen will play her third round match against Lucia Bronzetti on September 2.
3. China notches three straight group wins at Asian Women's Volleyball Championship
Chinese players encourage each other before their match against Kazakhstan at the 22nd Asian Women's Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand on Sept. 1, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Asian Volleyball Confederation)
China defeated Kazakhstan 25-12, 25-21, 25-10 to make the classification round at the 22nd Asian Women's Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand on September 1.
It was China's third straight win after defeating Hong Kong, China, and the Philippines in previous matches.
A total of eight teams qualified for the classification round and were divided into two new groups of four, in which China was grouped with Japan, India and Kazakhstan.
Teams in each group will play opponents that they have not yet faced in the first round, before the best two-placed teams progress to the semifinals.
4. Chen/Jia win record 4th badminton worlds women's doubles title
Chen Qingchen (L)/Jia Yifan of China pose during the women's doubles awarding ceremony at the 2023 BWF World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark on Aug. 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)
Defending champions Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan of China claimed a straight-game victory over Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti of Indonesia in badminton's World Championships women's doubles final on August 27, becoming the first women's pair to win four golds in the tournament's history.
26-year-old Chen first paired with Jia, also 26, at a World Championships in Glasgow in 2017, when they went all the way to win the title. They swept another two in 2021 and 2022, making them already one of the most successful women's doubles players in the sport's history.
China's mixed doubles top seeds Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong also had the chance to make history, but failed to defend their title after losing to South Korea's Seo Seung-jae and Chae Yu-jung for the first time in their 10 encounters. Fifth-seeded Seo and Chae needed 59 minutes to claim the victory 21-17, 10-21, 21-18.
5. Yi Jianlian retires from basketball
Yi Jianlian of China looks on during the Group M match against South Korea at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province on Sept. 6, 2019. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Chinese basketball icon Yi Jianlian announced on social media his retirement from a 21-year professional career on August 29.
In 2002, Yi began his professional journey with Guangdong's first team at just 15. He clinched seven Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) titles with the Guangdong Southern Tigers and represented China in four Olympic Games.
Throughout 625 CBA games, Yi amassed 12,781 points and 6,159 rebounds, becoming the league's premier all-time rebounder. He also distinguished himself as the first domestic player to achieve the 10,000-point milestone in regular season play.
Yi was honored with the title of CBA regular season MVP five times and was named CBA Finals MVP on three occasions.
He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the sixth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. Besides the Bucks, Yi's NBA tenure included the New Jersey Nets, the Washington Wizards, and the Dallas Mavericks. ■
