China Sports Weekly (10.26-11.1)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:

1. Host China finishes World Taekwondo Championships with 1 silver, 8 bronzes

Host China concluded its campaign at the World Taekwondo Championships on October 30, as 20-year-old Zhang Chuling claimed a bronze medal in the women's 53kg event, bringing the team's final tally to one silver and eight bronze medals.

Zhang, this year's national champion, lost 2-0 to Saudi Arabia's Dunya Ali M. Abutaleb in the women's 53kg semifinal. She conceded the first round 2-0 after her opponent scored with a mid-level kick.

China fielded a 16-member team, eight men and eight women, with 12 athletes making their World Championships debut. The squad reached the podium in nine weight categories. Among them, five bronze medalists were born after 2005, highlighting the rise of young talents.

2. China collects 63 gold, 49 silver and 35 bronze at Asian Youth Games

The 3rd Asian Youth Games concluded on October 31 with the Chinese delegation topping both the gold medal table and overall tally. China earned a total of 147 medals-63 gold, 49 silver, and 35 bronze-achieving its best-ever performance at the Games.

Team China participated in 20 sports in total, winning gold in 13 and medals in 19. Athletics, swimming, and weightlifting served as the "main pillars." The athletics team claimed 20 gold medals and broke 12 Games records; the swimming team earned 13 golds while setting six new Games records; and the weightlifting team won nine gold medals, setting three world youth records, six Asian youth records, and eight Games records.

3. China's Shi/Zhang claim women's doubles title at WTT Star Contender London

China's Shi Xunyao and Zhang Xiangyu captured the women's doubles crown at the WTT Star Contender London on October 25, defeating compatriots Qin Yuxuan and Zong Geman in straight games in the final.

In their first tournament as partners, Shi and Zhang produced a composed and confident performance to triumph 11-5, 11-5, 11-9. Both players credited their mental resilience and tactical execution as decisive factors in overcoming their familiar opponents.

"This was a match between teammates, so it was more about psychological adjustment and tactical play," Shi said after the victory. "I think we handled both aspects quite well."

The pair only began playing together after arriving in London, entering the event from the qualifying rounds without high expectations.

4. Olympic pairs champions Sui, Han take bronze in Cup of China return

China's Olympic champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong announced their return to pairs figure skating with a bronze medal at the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China in Chongqing on October 25.

Returning to the rink after more than three years, the 2022 Winter Games gold medalists showed clear focus and refined artistry despite downgraded jumps and shaky arms from Han.

Their long program to the music from Chinese dance drama A Tapestry of a Legendary Land earned them 130.47 points, 25 points short of their personal best score set in 2019, but was enough for a third-place finish with a total score of 202.92.

"We only rehearsed this program three times in total," said Han, who only decided in June to come out of retirement and partner Sui for a possible 2026 Winter Olympic campaign.

"During the final lift, my endurance reached its limit and my balance shifted. Although I tried to recover, the last transition was incomplete."

Georgia's reigning world junior champions Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava took gold on 217.24, with Italian pair Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii at second on 209.88.■