BEIJING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
1. China announces 886-athlete team for Hangzhou Asiad
Members of the Chinese delegation for the Hangzhou Asian Games sing the national anthem during the inaugural meeting of the delegation in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)
China announced a delegation of 1,329 members, including 886 athletes, for the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games in Beijing on September 12.
The 19th Asian Games will take place in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province from September 23 to October 8, during which 437 female and 449 male Chinese athletes will compete in 407 events of 38 disciplines.
Among the Chinese athletes, who have an average age of 25 years old, 36 are Olympic champions including stars such as Tokyo Olympics cycling track women's team sprint gold medalist Bao Shanju and Olympic gold winner and three-time world champion gymnast Zou Jingyuan.
2. Chinese female striker Zhang Linyan to join Tottenham Hotspur
China's Zhang Linyan (R) vies with England's Rachel Daly during their Group D match at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Adelaide, Australia, Aug. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)
Zhang Linyan, the youngest member of the Chinese women's national football team, is set to join Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur on a one-year loan.
The announcement came from the Chinese Women's Super League team, Wuhan Jianghan University FC on September 14.
The 22-year-old striker is slated to participate in the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games, scheduled from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8. Sources indicate that Zhang will head to Britain following the Games.
3. China's Zhou to continue in F1 in 2024
Alfa Romeo's Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu is seen in the paddock after the qualifying session of the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix 2023 at Hungaroring in Mogyorod near Budapest, Hungary on July 22, 2023. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
Zhou Guanyu will remain in Formula 1 with Alfa Romeo in 2024, after it was announced that the Chinese driver had penned a one-year extension with the Swiss-based team.
With the Chinese Grand Prix set to return to the F1 calendar next year for the first time since 2019, Zhou will also get the chance to race in front of his home crowd at the Shanghai International Circuit.
4. China sweeps seven golds at Asian Table Tennis Championships
Ma Long of China serves in the men's singles final against compatriot Fan Zhendong at the 2023 Asian Table Tennis Championships in Pyeongchang, South Korea on Sept. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xianghao)
China dominated the 2023 Asian Table Tennis Championships, clinching all seven gold medals (the championships featured seven events of both men's and women's singles, doubles, teams, and mixed doubles) in Pyeongchang, South Korea on September 10.
The tournament concluded with world No. 2 Ma Long securing a victory over top-seeded Fan Zhendong in the men's singles.
5. China took one draw and one loss in football friendlies
Wu Lei (M) of China competes during their international football friendly against Malaysia in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province on Sept. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)
China's men's football team on September 9 had a disappointing 1-1 draw with Malaysia. Despite Malaysia's No. 136 position in the FIFA rankings, they stunned the 80th-ranked home side in the 11th minute. Lin Liangming equalized for China in the 36th minute with a left-wing free-kick.
The team's friendly trip in Chengdu continued with an embarrassing defeat as they lost to Syria 1-0 on September 12. In the match, China had a total of 17 shots with seven on target, while Syria only had one shot on target to score the winning goal.
The Chinese side will play two friendly games against Vietnam and Uzbekistan in October.■
