BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
1. Zhang retains strawweight title in all-Chinese affair at UFC 300
In the first-ever all-Chinese title fight in UFC history, Zhang Weili defeated Yan Xiaonan by unanimous decision on April 14, retaining her strawweight world championship at the T-Mobile Arena.
With five title fight wins, Zhang now ranks second in UFC women's strawweight history, trailing only Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who has six wins.
2. China's He, three African runners disqualified for Beijing Half Marathon
The four runners who were involved in a controversial race finish in last Sunday's Beijing Half Marathon have been stripped of medals.
Organizers launched an investigation after video clips of the race on April 14 showed the Kenyans Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat and Dejene Bikila of Ethiopia deliberately slowed down before the finish line to let China's He Jie win.
Xtep, the official sponsor of the Beijing Half Marathon, invited the three African runners to act as He's pace-setters, but they were not eligible to compete as elite athletes, the Organizing Committee said in a statement.
3. China's athletes have earned places in 165 events for Paris Olympics
With the Paris Olympic Games less than 100 days away, China's athletes are set to compete in at least 165 events across various sports, according to the country's General Administration of Sport (GAS).
The upcoming Olympic qualification tournaments in May and June in Shanghai and Budapest for sport climbing, skateboarding, breaking, and BMX freestyle will provide further opportunities for China's young athletes to qualify.
4. Xie Lijun becomes Chinese Super League's first female referee
Xie Lijun became the first female referee in China's top-flight football league when she acted as an assistant referee during the Chinese Super League game between Shanghai Port and Shandong Taishan on April 14.
Xie, 35, officiated at the 2022 Women's Asian Cup and the 2024 U20 Women's Asian Cup finals, as well as multiple FIFA games. She was the only Chinese referee on the field at the 2023 Women's World Cup.
5. China loses to Japan, South Korea at AFC U23 Asian Cup
China lost to 10-men Japan in the AFC U23 Asian Cup in Doha on April 16, before falling to South Korea 2-0 on April 19.
Having lost two group games in a row, China saw its hopes of advancing into the knockout stage dashed.
The AFC U23 Asian Cup, featuring 16 teams in four groups, serves as a qualification tournament for the Paris Olympics. The top three finishers at the tournament will directly qualify for the Olympics, while the fourth-placed team will face Guinea in a play-off for the last Olympic spot. ■
