BEIJING, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
1. China's inaugural Student (Youth) Games opens
Fireworks light up the sky during the opening ceremony of the first Student (Youth) Games of China in Nanning of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Nov. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)
Gathering some 18,000 competitors, China's first Student (Youth) Games opened in Nanning of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on November 5.
Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin declared the Games Open, marking the first time that Guangxi has hosted a national comprehensive sports event.
The Games is the result of a merger of the National Youth Games and the National Student Games as part of China's endeavor to improve the country's youth sports system, which is stated in a 2020 guideline on deepening the integration of sports and education to promote the healthy development of China's youth.
The games will conclude on November 15.
2. Inaugural International Basketball Expo opens in East China
Chinese Basketball Association President Yao Ming delivers a video address to the International Basketball Expo.
The inaugural International Basketball Expo opened at the Jinjiang International Convention and Exhibition Center in east China's Fujian Province on November 8.
Yao Ming, president of the Chinese Basketball Association, delivered a video address to the expo that runs through Sunday.
The first edition of the International Basketball Expo aims to showcase the history and achievements of Chinese basketball, promote basketball culture and create cooperation opportunities within the basketball industry, according to the organizers.
The Expo, also known as "China BOOM" based on the dimensions of "Basketball," "Original," "Opportunity," and "Master," is divided into five main sections: professional basketball, women's basketball, street basketball, youth basketball, and rural basketball.
3. China announces 24-man roster for World Cup qualifiers
China's national men's football team go through their paces in a training session in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, March 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
China's national men's football team unveiled a 24-player roster for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers, with Zhang Yuning returning to the squad after a long term injury.
Head coach Aleksandar Jankovic has called up a full-strength team including Wu Lei, Wu Xi and Wei Shihao, but Ai Kesen was not listed. Shenzhen FC right-back Xu Haofeng was called up to replace the injured Jiang Guangtai.
China will play their first 2026 World Cup qualifier away against Thailand on November 16, before facing South Korea at home in Shenzhen five days later.
4. Shandong Taishan beat Incheon United in AFC Champions League
Li Yuanyi (L, front) of Shandong Taishan celebrates scoring during the AFC Champions League Group G match against Incheon United of South Korea in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)
China's Shandong Taishan downed Incheon United of South Korea 3-1 at home in the AFC Champions League group stage on Tuesday, bolstering their hopes of reaching the round of 16.
Shandong broke the deadlock in the 54th minute as Li Yuanyi tapped home after a cross from Liu Binbin, followed by Incheon United's 65th-minute own goal and Cryzan Barcelos' 75th-minute penalty.
Incheon scored a consolation goal in the dying seconds through Kim Do-hyeok.
5. Young talents looming in new CBA season
Yang Hansen of the Qingdao Eagles in action in the Chinese Basketball Association match against the Nanjing Monkey Kings on October 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
With the season's first few fixtures having been completed, some budding youngsters have already caught the eye in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league, helping to boost confidence in the future of Chinese basketball.
2023 CBA draft pick No.1 Chen Guohao of the Beijing Royal Fighters, 18-year-old all-powerful center Yang Hansen of the Qingdao Eagles and former college star forward Zou Yang of the Fujian Sturgeons have all caught the eye.
Elsewhere, other newcomers like Guangdong Southern Tigers forward Zhang Wenyi, Liaoning Flying Leopards guard Li Huyi, and No. 2 draft pick Fang Jiachen of the Sichuan Blue Whales have also adapted well to professional basketball.
6. Wang Yidi lifts the WTT Champions Frankfurt trophy
Wang Yidi of China hits a return during the women's singles final match against Wang Manyu of China at the WTT Champions Frankfurt 2023 in Frankfurt, Germany, Nov. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
China's Wang Yidi defeated her compatriot Wang Manyu to lift the women's trophy on November 6 at WTT Champions Frankfurt.
Wang Yidi took the WTT Champions trophy after beating third seed Wang Manyu for the women's singles title 11-3, 13-11, 12-10, 13-11. Having lost five of her six previous encounters against Wang Manyu, Yidi finally took her second win over her teammate.
Wang Yidi becomes one of the only three players to lift a women's singles trophy on the WTT Champions stage, joining Wang Manyu and Sun Yingsha on an exclusive list.
Chinese Taipei's Lin Yun-Ju stunned China's table tennis legend Ma Long 4-1 to claim the men's title.
