BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
1. Olympic Qualifier Series 2024 held in Shanghai
The inaugural Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) event started in Shanghai on May 16. The four-day event, as the first stop of OQS, is pivotal for qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and includes competitions in BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding, and sport climbing, marking the first instance where athletes from these four sports will compete together at the same venue in a single urban park.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) sports director Kit McConnell on May 14 during an online media roundtable said that China is an incredibly important part of world sport and Shanghai has an environment conductive to hosting international sports events, and he believed the Chinese metropolis will be "an outstanding host" over the weekend.
Pierre Fratter-Bardy, IOC Olympic Games Strategy & Development Associate Director, told at a press conference that the OQS Shanghai is more than a sport event, and it is about celebrating what these sports stand for and dispose their lifestyle.
The event also highlighted the vibrant interplay of sports and urban culture in two iconic cities: Shanghai and Paris, in the year of Paris 2024 and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.
2. WADA gains support from Foundation Board on Chinese swimming case
WADA President Witold Banka announced strong backing from WADA's Foundation Board in an extraordinary meeting regarding the Chinese swimming contamination case.
The Board, representing diverse stakeholders, expressed support for WADA's dealing of the contamination case involving swimmers from China.
WADA has referred the case to an independent prosecutor, Eric Cottier, who will issue a report by June's end. Banka emphasized the prosecutor's access to all relevant information and highlighted the importance of considering recommendations for strengthening the global anti-doping system. WADA officials reaffirmed their commitment to fair investigation and athlete involvement in the process, rejecting unfounded accusations and emphasizing the importance of preserving athletes' trust in clean sports.
3. Liaoning takes 2-0 lead over Xinjiang in CBA Finals
The Liaoning Flying Leopards breezed past the Xinjiang Flying Tigers 121-112 on May 15 to open the 2023-2024 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league final series with a bang.
Staying in Liaoning for the Finals Game 2, Kyle Fogg's stellar 34-point performance led Liaoning to a 97-86 victory over Xinjiang, giving them a comfortable 2-0 lead in the final series.
4. China sweeps men's long jump T11 medals at Para Athletics World Championships
China made a clean sweep of all three medals in the men's long jump T11 final at the Para Athletics World Championships on May 17 in Kobe, Japan.
Chen Shichang, 23, bagged the gold with a leap of 6.62 meters at the Universiade Memorial Stadium in the Japanese port city of Kobe, twice refreshing the championship record during the process.
Di Dongdong clinched the silver with a jump of 6.50m, while Ye Tao grabbed the bronze with a personal best of 6.48m.
5. Chinese table tennis team Olympic roster announced
The Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) announced its full squad for the Paris 2024 Olympics on May 14, naming 35-year-old Ma for the men's team event, alongside Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong, who are currently the top two players in the world rankings. Liang Jingkun will serve as an alternate (P-card holder).
On the women's side, Sun Yingsha and Chen Meng will represent China in the singles events. Wang Manyu has been selected for the team event, with Wang Yidi named as the alternate. The selection for the women's singles was based on the latest world rankings.■
