https://www.scmp.com/rss/509912/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com China’s youngest Olympic champion at the Toyko 2020 Games, Quan Hongchan, has earned herself another plaudit as she was named to the Forbes China 30 Under 30 list for 2021, which was published on Thursday. The 14-year-old is the youngest person on the overall list of 300, which includes 30 names for 10 separate industries, with Quan and her fellow Chinese Olympic gold medal winners named to the sport list. Teammate Chen Yuxi, 16, is the next youngest athlete with 17-year-old Zhang Jiaqi also on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3149171/olympic-champ-quan-hongchan-youngest-name-forbes-chinas-30-under-30?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3149171/olympic-champ-quan-hongchan-youngest-name-forbes-chinas-30-under-30?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Sep 2021 09:26:38 +0000 China’s hopes of adding another medal to their Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games tally were given a boost as Great Britain’s 4x100m relay silver medal appears almost certain to be stripped as part of an ongoing drug scandal involving sprinter Chijinda “CJ” Ujah. On Tuesday the International Testing Agency confirmed that Ujah’s B-sample showed the same prohibited substances as his A-sample revealed last month following the closing of the Tokyo Games The ITA had announced on August 12 that Ujah, who was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3148777/tokyo-olympics-china-closer-4x100m-relay-bronze-britain-set-be-stripped?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3148777/tokyo-olympics-china-closer-4x100m-relay-bronze-britain-set-be-stripped?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Sep 2021 02:50:14 +0000 The China National Games are well under way despite only officially starting later this month and Chinese Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medal winning trampolinist Zhu Xueying saw her dreams of a double end in spectacular fashion. Zhu, who rose to global fame after complaining that her Tokyo 2020 gold medal was “peeling” in a post on her Weibo while in quarantine, crashed out of the competition in Xi’an, Shaanxi province on Saturday’s opening day of the trampoline events. The Olympic gold medallist... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3147695/olympic-trampoline-champion-zhu-xueying-crashes-out-china-national?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3147695/olympic-trampoline-champion-zhu-xueying-crashes-out-china-national?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Sep 2021 05:21:55 +0000 China’s snowboarding star Liu Jiayu has set her sights on gold at February’s Beijing Winter Olympics and she’s been pushing her body to its very limits as she tries to find the edge needed to dethrone reigning Olympic and world champion Chloe Kim. Korean-American sensation Kim returned to competition earlier this year after a 22-month study break and the 20-year-old immediately claimed another world half-pipe title. It was some statement of intent as the Beijing 2020 opening ceremony approaches... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3147056/beijing-2022-chinas-liu-jiayu-sees-gold-medal-and-toppling-chloe-kim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3147056/beijing-2022-chinas-liu-jiayu-sees-gold-medal-and-toppling-chloe-kim?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Aug 2021 23:15:20 +0000 Chinese Olympic champion Zhu Xueying has become the first from the Tokyo 2020 Games to donate their gold medal to a museum, though some have criticised the trampolinist for the decision. Zhu had made headlines globally during her post-Tokyo quarantine when she posted a photograph of her Olympic gold medal apparently peeling, with the topic trending on Chinese social media. Now, with her quarantine completed, Zhu was seen handing over her medal and the gear she wore during the event to the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3147030/chinese-olympic-champions-decision-donate-peeling-gold-medal-museum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3147030/chinese-olympic-champions-decision-donate-peeling-gold-medal-museum?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Aug 2021 10:00:22 +0000 Chinese women’s volleyball star Zhu Ting has been confirmed as taking part in the upcoming China National Games next month though fans have questioned whether she should play as she recovers from injury. Reports in the Chinese media confirmed that Zhu – who was China’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – will play for Henan province at the Games in Xi’an, with the volleyball section set to begin in mid-September. Fans have responded by questioning the decision... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3146997/fans-question-injured-volleyball-star-zhu-ting-playing-china-national?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3146997/fans-question-injured-volleyball-star-zhu-ting-playing-china-national?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Aug 2021 05:20:59 +0000 When China’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics track star Su Bingtian finished his 100-metre final earlier this month, talk quickly turned to the country’s original athletics darling – Athens 2004 110m hurdles winner Liu Xiang, China’s first men’s track and field gold medallist. “I have always been in contact with my bro (Liu) Xiang, and he is constantly encouraging me and supporting me. And I remember that every year on his birthday, I would give him my blessing,” Su told China Media Group following the 100m... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3146654/china-still-looking-new-liu-xiang-athens-2004-gold-inspires-17-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3146654/china-still-looking-new-liu-xiang-athens-2004-gold-inspires-17-years?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Aug 2021 09:36:00 +0000 A Chinese Olympic champion publicly criticised the quality of her gold medal on Monday and posted photos online that appear to show it peeling. Zhu Xueying, who won the trampoline gymnastics event, posted three photos on Weibo of the medal that appear to show an obvious deformity on the top left side. She wrote: “Can your medals … peel off too?” in the caption. The Tokyo Olympic Committee told the nationalistic tabloid Global Times on Wednesday that the deformity was likely the result of a... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3146315/tokyo-olympics-two-chinese-champions-claim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3146315/tokyo-olympics-two-chinese-champions-claim?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Aug 2021 08:00:12 +0000 Just two weeks after the Japanese capital bade sayonara to the 2020 Olympics, fireworks welcomed the beginning of the Paralympics as Tokyo became the first city to host the Games twice. The Olympic Stadium once again played host to the airport-themed Opening Ceremony with IOC president Thomas Bach among those in attendance as Japan’s Emperor Naruhito declared the Games open. This Paralympics is set to follow the Olympics in more ways than one, as its kick-off in front of an almost empty stadium... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3146226/tokyo-paralympics-covid-19-positive-casts-shadow-over-spectacular?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3146226/tokyo-paralympics-covid-19-positive-casts-shadow-over-spectacular?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Aug 2021 13:00:16 +0000 China’s women’s football team have dropped in the Fifa rankings following their humiliating exit from the group stage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Steel Roses lost 5-0 to Brazil, drew 4-4 with Zambia and then were beaten 8-2 by the Netherlands at the Games with many fans calling for the sacking of coach Jia Xiuquan . China have dropped two places from 15th to 17th following their early Olympic exit and remain Asia’s fourth best team behind North Korea, Australia and Japan. North Korea have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145878/china-women-drop-fifa-rankings-after-olympic-humiliation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145878/china-women-drop-fifa-rankings-after-olympic-humiliation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Aug 2021 04:23:47 +0000 Chinese authorities rejected 109 trademarks applications from businesses that used names of Olympians from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games without their permission. In the aftermath of an Olympics game that generated big-time domestic stars, some companies started using their names to sell everything from office supplies to beer. But, in many cases, the athletes had not approved, or may not have been aware, that their likeness was being used for advertising. “Such acts wrongfully used other... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3145612/tokyo-olympics-chinese-businesses-illegally?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3145612/tokyo-olympics-chinese-businesses-illegally?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Aug 2021 07:52:26 +0000 Track star Su Bingtian had a remarkable Olympics in Tokyo, clocking a personal best in the semi-finals to become the first Chinese sprinter to reach the final of the men’s 100m. Su ran an Asian record 9.83 seconds in that semi-final to go into the showpiece as the second fastest finalist. The men’s 100m final, where Su finished sixth, was the most watched event of these Olympics on China’s state broadcaster CCTV and despite Su turning 33 later this month, he thinks there is more to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145333/tokyo-olympics-asias-fastest-man-su-bingtian-aiming-go-faster?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145333/tokyo-olympics-asias-fastest-man-su-bingtian-aiming-go-faster?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Aug 2021 09:30:18 +0000 Chinese teen diving sensation Quan Hongchan has been taken into the hearts of social media users with many referring to the 14-year-old as “the nation’s little sister”. Now those same Netizens are pondering the potential of Quan’s own little sister, 12-year-old Quan Hongtao, and her younger brother, 10-year-old Quan Jinpeng. Both of the double Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games gold medallist’s younger siblings are enrolled in the same Zhanjiang Sports School that Quan has trained at from seven years... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145088/tokyo-olympics-quan-hongchans-siblings-give-chinese-diving-fans-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145088/tokyo-olympics-quan-hongchans-siblings-give-chinese-diving-fans-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Aug 2021 03:46:24 +0000 Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian may not have won a medal in the men’s 100m final but he topped the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games television ratings back home. Data published by China Central Television (CCTV) put Su’s 100m sprint showpiece in first place of its top 10 most-watched events from the Tokyo Games. Su entered the final after posting a new Asian record time of 9.83 seconds in his semi-final but missed out on a medal in the final. The event had a 4.8 per cent share of the audience. The men’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145048/tokyo-olympics-su-bingtians-100m-sprint-final-tops-china-tv-ratings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3145048/tokyo-olympics-su-bingtians-100m-sprint-final-tops-china-tv-ratings?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Aug 2021 07:22:14 +0000 China’s Olympic diving sensation Quan Hongchan revealed her ambition to reporters in her first interview since claiming two gold medals in Tokyo. Rather than more Olympic success the 14-year-old said that she wanted to “open a supermarket”. Quan, who won golds in the individual and synchronised 10m platform events, has been the subject of much media interest. Her mother had revealed in an earlier interview that the snack-loving teenager’s dream was to open a small store but Quan said that her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144936/tokyo-olympics-china-diving-star-quan-hongchan-reveals-ambition-owning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144936/tokyo-olympics-china-diving-star-quan-hongchan-reveals-ambition-owning?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Aug 2021 02:17:09 +0000 China table tennis star Sun Yingsha was not told of her grandmother’s April death until after the Tokyo Olympic Games finished, her father told Chinese media. According to reports, Sun’s family took the decision to keep the death of her grandmother from the 20-year-old so that she could focus on competing in the Tokyo Games, with the paddler already away at training camp. Sun won gold in the women’s team event and silver in the women’s singles, beating Japanese table tennis rising star Mima Ito... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144924/tokyo-olympics-chinas-sun-yingsha-not-told-dead-grandmother-till-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144924/tokyo-olympics-chinas-sun-yingsha-not-told-dead-grandmother-till-games?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Aug 2021 06:58:21 +0000 China could be in line for a late addition to its Tokyo 2020 medal haul after the Athletics Integrity Unit announced a provisional ban on British sprinter Chijindu Ujah over suspected doping. The body announced that there were adverse findings in the tests of 27-year-old Ujah, who ran the opening leg for Team GB’s 4x100-metre sprint quartet as it was narrowly beaten by Italy and claimed Olympic silver ahead of Canada last week. China’s team of Su Bingtian, Asia’s fastest man; Tang Xingqiang; Wu... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144880/tokyo-2020-china-going-boost-its-olympic-medal-tally-4x100m-bronze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144880/tokyo-2020-china-going-boost-its-olympic-medal-tally-4x100m-bronze?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Aug 2021 02:49:10 +0000 Zhu Ting, the star of China’s women’s volleyball team, has told online commenters that she will see them in court after they spread rumours about her in relation to the Rio 2016 gold medallists crashing out in the group stage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. In a Weibo post on Wednesday the star spiker – who also carried the Chinese flag in the Olympic opening ceremony – published a police report and a certificate with the caption, “Notarised, fixed evidence. Reported to police. Requesting... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144831/tokyo-olympics-china-volleyball-star-zhu-ting-takes-social-media-trolls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144831/tokyo-olympics-china-volleyball-star-zhu-ting-takes-social-media-trolls?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Aug 2021 10:40:15 +0000 In early August in Denmark, Zhang Lianying’s WeChat notifications pinged, indicating that he had received a voice message. When he listened on his phone, he heard a recording in Mandarin that said simply: “I don’t know what to say. Thank you very much.” The note of gratitude came from Viktor Axelsen, a Danish badminton player who, minutes before, had just won his first Olympics gold medal by beating defending champion Chen Long in the men’s singles tournament. Zhang is Axelsen’s technical coach,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3144497/tokyo-olympics-how-danish-golden-dragon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3144497/tokyo-olympics-how-danish-golden-dragon?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Aug 2021 07:58:08 +0000 The family of Quan Hongchan, the Chinese gold-medal-winning Olympic diver, are suddenly finding themselves refusing gifts and cash from across the country after the general public learned about the teenager’s humble background. Quan might be the biggest star for China coming out of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games because the 14-year-old thoroughly dominated the competition to take home her gold medal. How China’s diving darling strove for Tokyo gold to help ill mother Not only did Quan find immense... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3144382/tokyo-olympics-family-chinese-diving-star-turn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3144382/tokyo-olympics-family-chinese-diving-star-turn?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Aug 2021 02:46:27 +0000 Unparalleled success, joy unmatched, Sarah Lee Wai-sze capped Hong Kong’s greatest Olympics ever with a bronze on Sunday to add to the five other medals her teammates had already won against a backdrop of Covid-19. Putting the exclamation mark on the best performance in the city’s history, that Lee’s win was tinged with disappointment at what might have been spoke volumes for what was achieved – and desired even more – compared with the sober, modest predictions beforehand. That the next Games... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144299/tokyo-olympics-hong-kongs-greatest-games-ever-brings-joy-unmatched?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3144299/tokyo-olympics-hong-kongs-greatest-games-ever-brings-joy-unmatched?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Aug 2021 15:27:23 +0000 In one of the closest run contests of the entire Tokyo 2020 Games, Team USA pipped fierce rivals China in the gold medal race on Sunday. China, who had led the medal table for 11 straight days, were pipped at the post by the USA when Chinese athletes failed to win a gold medal on the final day. Team USA finished with 39 gold, 41 silver and 33 bronze medals, against China’s 38 gold, 32 silver and 18 bronze. How China’s diving darling strove for Tokyo gold to help ill mother “We are thrilled by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144290/tokyo-olympics-chinas-gold-medal-haul-hailed-despite-usa-stealing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144290/tokyo-olympics-chinas-gold-medal-haul-hailed-despite-usa-stealing?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Aug 2021 12:08:11 +0000 China’s final hope of a 39th gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games ended with Li Qian’s women’s middleweight boxing bout loss to Great Britain’s Lauren Price. Price looked the brighter from the off and it was no surprise when her arm was raised as the winner by unanimous decision at the end of the three rounds. Li’s loss means that China can no longer beat the US outright in the gold medal table, with the Americans now on 39 to finish above China’s 38 – as had been predicted before the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144278/tokyo-olympics-li-qian-boxing-loss-britains-lauren-price-ends-chinas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144278/tokyo-olympics-li-qian-boxing-loss-britains-lauren-price-ends-chinas?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Aug 2021 07:57:54 +0000 China’s Ma Long added to his legendary status by becoming the most successful Olympic table tennis player in history, with his two golds in Tokyo being hailed as “perfection”. “There are no words to describe Ma Long,” Chinese Table Tennis Association president Liu Guoliang, a two-time Olympic champion himself, said after the 32-year-old’s feats in the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium took him to five Games golds. “If people chase perfection, this is it. His spirit is different. He doesn’t just... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144261/tokyo-olympics-ma-longs-golds-hailed-he-hints-paris-2024?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144261/tokyo-olympics-ma-longs-golds-hailed-he-hints-paris-2024?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Aug 2021 01:17:23 +0000 China has been making plenty of history at the Tokyo Olympics, and diver Cao Yuan added the latest chapter with his 10m diving platform final triumph on Saturday. The 26-year-old scored an overall total of 582.35 points, outduelling teammate Yang Jian for the gold meal by just 1.95 points at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, He had to earn it, for sure, performing a final dive which scored 10s from two of the judges, and 9.5s from the rest. The victory provides some redemption for Cao, whose silver in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144226/tokyo-olympics-cao-yuan-earns-redemption-and-piece-diving-history-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144226/tokyo-olympics-cao-yuan-earns-redemption-and-piece-diving-history-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Aug 2021 09:10:49 +0000 Welterweight Gu Hong grabbed China’s first boxing medal of these Games at the Kokugikan Arena on Saturday after an ugly final bout against Turkey’s Busenaz Surmeneli went against her on the judges’ scorecards. The Chinese second seed was unable to implement the game plan that had been so effective for her during the welterweight campaign. Attempting to fight at range, she was continually stymied by the aggressive Surmeneli’s willingness to make the fight a shoot-out at close quarters. Gu was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144217/tokyo-olympics-gu-hong-takes-silver-after-split-decision-loss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144217/tokyo-olympics-gu-hong-takes-silver-after-split-decision-loss?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Aug 2021 06:55:51 +0000 The 14-year-old diver Quan Hongchan may be China’s breakout star of the Tokyo Games, but she is just one of many elite athletes emerging from the southeastern province of Guangdong. A coastal province bordering Hong Kong, Guangdong has become a cradle of world-class divers. While the Chinese national diving team is known as the “Dream Team”, the Guangdong contingent could easily be nicknamed “the dream team within the dream team”. Quan was born in Zhanjiang, which boasts a population of 7.5... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144173/tokyo-olympics-why-quan-hongchans-guangdong-chinas-cradle-world-class?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144173/tokyo-olympics-why-quan-hongchans-guangdong-chinas-cradle-world-class?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Aug 2021 00:00:18 +0000 China’s pursuit of another gold fell short in the men’s 4x100m relay but a national record-equalling 37.79 seconds run from their speedsters at the Olympic Stadium got them as close as they have been to a medal. Asia’s fastest man Su Bingtian, Tang Xingqiang, Wu Zhiqiang and Xie Zhenye finished in fourth after Canada pipped them to the line, the second Games in a row where they have just missed out on the podium. Three of the Tokyo quartet – Tang, Xie and Su – had finished fourth in Rio (along... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144175/tokyo-olympics-su-bingtians-china-sprinters-miss-out-4x100m-relay-medal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144175/tokyo-olympics-su-bingtians-china-sprinters-miss-out-4x100m-relay-medal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Aug 2021 14:47:10 +0000 China’s men’s table tennis team ensured that the nation’s mixed doubles silver was the only upset in an otherwise characteristically dominant display with the paddle. The top seeds dismissed the challenge of second seeds Germany in a replay of the Beijing 2008 final, the first year the men’s team event was introduced. Victory at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium ensured China’s vice-like grip on gold extends to all four tournaments. It ended, like China’s other games in their title defence,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144165/tokyo-olympics-china-beat-germany-keep-grip-mens-table-tennis-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144165/tokyo-olympics-china-beat-germany-keep-grip-mens-table-tennis-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Aug 2021 13:32:11 +0000 China’s Liu Shiying is the Olympic champion in javelin after a first attempt distance of 66.34 metres secured her top spot on the podium at the Olympic Stadium on Friday night. A season’s best effort for the 27-year-old was enough to win the Olympic gold to add to her Asian Games gold and her silver medal from the 2019 World Championships. It was China’s second track and field gold of the Games and inches China ever closer to the coveted top spot on the overall medal table with two days of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144163/tokyo-olympics-more-athletics-gold-china-liu-shiying-secures-javelin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144163/tokyo-olympics-more-athletics-gold-china-liu-shiying-secures-javelin?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Aug 2021 13:15:24 +0000 If the Tokyo Olympics had not been postponed by a year, we would have been robbed of seeing Chinese diver Quan Hongchan make her stunning splash at the Games. But having turned 14 just four months ago, Quan met the minimum age requirement this summer, and on Thursday became China’s newest diving sensation when she won the 10m platform gold in some style at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Quan Hongchan’s hometown swarmed by diving star’s new fans A picture of her coach holding the spiky-haired... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144156/how-quan-hongchan-chinas-14-year-old-diving-darling-strove-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144156/how-quan-hongchan-chinas-14-year-old-diving-darling-strove-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Aug 2021 12:31:32 +0000 Chinese state media has criticised an Australian news outlet over its coverage of 14-year-old Tokyo Olympics gold medallist diver Quan Hongchan. The English-language Global Times newspaper took aim at conservative website News.com.au, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, for “weird, offensive words” that “defamed” Quan. China’s youngest athlete at the Games won gold in the individual 10-metre platform final on Thursday, blowing away the competition with three perfect 10s for a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144078/tokyo-olympics-australian-websites-weird-offensive-coverage-teen-diver?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144078/tokyo-olympics-australian-websites-weird-offensive-coverage-teen-diver?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Aug 2021 07:07:57 +0000 Chinese middleweight Li Qian will fight for a Tokyo 2020 gold medal after overcoming the Russian Olympic Committee’s Zemfira Magomedalieva in their semi-final clash at the Kokugikan Arena on Friday. Li dominated her 33-year-old opponent, a two-time world amateur champion at light-heavyweight and heavyweight, with superior ring craft during a largely untidy fight. Li was handed the fight by a unanimous judges’ decision, with all five judges awarding the Henan native each of the three... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144064/tokyo-olympics-chinas-li-qian-fight-middleweight-boxing-gold-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144064/tokyo-olympics-chinas-li-qian-fight-middleweight-boxing-gold-after?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Aug 2021 05:39:09 +0000 Diving at the Olympics has long been the domain of China, Russia, Canada and Great Britain. But every so often, Mexico will appear on the medals table. It is not by chance the Latin American country has springboarded into success, but via a little-known soft power diplomacy programme dating back to 1957. In the past decade, Mexico has made headway through this unconventional route, a bond of friendship forged with China, and personified by a diving coach named Ma Jin. The Beijing native was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144031/tokyo-olympics-ex-china-star-ma-jin-mexicos-secret-weapon-mainland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3144031/tokyo-olympics-ex-china-star-ma-jin-mexicos-secret-weapon-mainland?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Aug 2021 02:20:56 +0000 China beat Japan for the table tennis women’s team gold preventing Mima Ito from taking another medal from them and keeping up their remarkable record. It ended 3-0 between the top two seeds at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, with the showpiece over in one hour and 50 minutes. Japan got off to the ideal start in the opening doubles rubber with Kasumi Ishikawa and Miu Hirano taking the first game off Chen Meng and Wang Manyu with an 11-9 win. That was as good it got for the hosts as Chen and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143995/tokyo-olympics-china-beat-japan-table-tennis-team-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143995/tokyo-olympics-china-beat-japan-table-tennis-team-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:45:57 +0000 CCTV came under fire in China this week after a reporter asked the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold-medal-winning shot-putter Gong Lijiao when she will “return to being a woman” amid a series of questions about her femininity. The reporter, Lu You, also said on camera she thought Gong was a “manly girl” and compared her to a tomboy. She proceeded to ask Gong, “What plans do you have next as a girl?” She also asked whether Gong planned to find a boyfriend. When Lu asked Gong what would happen “if you arm... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3143918/tokyo-olympics-cctv-under-fire-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3143918/tokyo-olympics-cctv-under-fire-after?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Aug 2021 09:00:10 +0000 China’s 14-year-old diver Quan Hongchan wrapped up the 10m platform gold medal in stunning style after producing three perfect-10 dives at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. All six judges awarded her second, fourth and fifth dives – which all had a difficulty rating of 3.2 – with scores of 10 on Thursday afternoon. Chinese women Olympic athletes’ success challenges China’s beauty standards Appearing in her first Games, Quan sealed China’s 33rd gold medal in Tokyo, obliterating the field with an... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143915/tokyo-olympics-chinas-14-year-old-diver-quan-hongchan-receives-perfect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143915/tokyo-olympics-chinas-14-year-old-diver-quan-hongchan-receives-perfect?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Aug 2021 06:51:40 +0000 Olympic chiefs say they have launched an investigation after China’s two track cycling sprint gold medallists wore pins bearing the image of the country’s founding father, Mao Zedong, during the medal ceremony. The Chinese duo of Bao Shanju and Zhong Tianshi may have breached International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules on the display of political paraphernalia as they celebrated on the podium after clocking 31.895 seconds to beat Germany in the final and win gold in the women’s team sprint. Bao... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3143837/tokyo-olympics-ioc-investigate-after-chinese-gold-medallists-wear-mao-zedong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3143837/tokyo-olympics-ioc-investigate-after-chinese-gold-medallists-wear-mao-zedong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Aug 2021 13:29:39 +0000 Zheng Ninali made history for China in the heptathlon with the former Canada athlete becoming the country’s first naturalised Olympian. The 23-year-old, who was known as Nina Schultz when she competed for the country of her birth, sits 10th after four events on day one with three more to come on the second day. She will be buoyed by a fourth-place finish in 24.56 seconds in her 200m heat to close out the evening session at the Olympic Stadium. Zheng qualified for the Tokyo Games based on her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143829/tokyo-olympics-chinas-zheng-ninali-still-heptathlon-hunt-historic-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143829/tokyo-olympics-chinas-zheng-ninali-still-heptathlon-hunt-historic-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Aug 2021 12:31:20 +0000 China’s men followed the women into the team’s table tennis gold-medal match with a relatively trouble-free victory over South Korea. It ended 3-0 after one doubles and two singles contests but the Koreans offered some resistance to the sport’s titans, who are gunning for a fourth gold in a row since the team event was introduced in 2008. The odds suggest they will face Japan, which is how it has unfolded in both the women’s team final as well as the mixed doubles. Japan takes on Germany in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143801/tokyo-olympics-china-face-japan-or-germany-mens-team-table-tennis-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143801/tokyo-olympics-china-face-japan-or-germany-mens-team-table-tennis-final?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Aug 2021 10:10:21 +0000 China’s Gu Hong wrapped up an impressive split decision victory against USA’s Oshae Jones at Tokyo’s Kokugikan Arena on Wednesday to ensure her country will win at least one Olympic boxing medal at these Games. Gu, 32, was always in control in the welterweight semi-final bout and the second-seeded veteran enjoyed the luxury of seeing out the final round in comfort – though she also swept it on the scorecards – after racing into a commanding two-round lead. The victory means China is guaranteed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143759/tokyo-olympics-chinas-gu-hong-moves-gold-medal-fight-she-dispatches-usa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143759/tokyo-olympics-chinas-gu-hong-moves-gold-medal-fight-she-dispatches-usa?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Aug 2021 06:26:43 +0000 Hong Kong’s coach and players were right – the women’s team table tennis bronze medal match will be against Germany after they were beaten 3-0 by top seeds China. It was a repeat of the Rio 2016 gold medal match-up, which China also walked away from as winners. Germany’s team – Han Ying, Shan Xiaona and Petrissa Solja – was unchanged from five years ago and again could not cope with the challenge of world No 1 Chen Meng, No 2 Sun Yingsha and No 4 Wang Manyu. World No 5 doubles pair Wang and Chen... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143757/tokyo-olympics-hong-kong-face-germany-china-sets-table-tennis-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143757/tokyo-olympics-hong-kong-face-germany-china-sets-table-tennis-final?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Aug 2021 06:15:49 +0000 Heptathlete Zheng Ninali has made history at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium where she became China’s first naturalised Olympian and fulfilled her grandmother’s Olympic dream. The 22-year-old was previously known as Nina Schultz and competed for Canada, including winning a silver at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018 where she finished second to Britain’s Olympic champion Katerina Johnson-Thompson. Tokyo Olympics: Will China beat Japan (and the US) at their own Games? Born in New... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143732/tokyo-olympics-zheng-ninali-makes-history-chinas-first-naturalised?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143732/tokyo-olympics-zheng-ninali-makes-history-chinas-first-naturalised?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Aug 2021 02:40:13 +0000 A 58-year-old table tennis player representing Luxembourg at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has been dubbed the “Shanghai auntie” by the Chinese internet. Ni Xialian was born and raised in Shanghai and is the oldest athlete to compete in table tennis in Olympic history. She has competed at five Games. When Ni played Shin Yu-bin, a 17-year-old South Korean athlete, on July 25, people described the match as a “fight between a grandma and a grandchild”. Ni lost the match 3-4. As Ni’s profile grew,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3143653/tokyo-olympics-58-year-old-table-tennis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3143653/tokyo-olympics-58-year-old-table-tennis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Aug 2021 01:00:19 +0000 USA’s Athing Mu took the 800-metres gold in a national record time of one minute, 55.21 seconds at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday to confirm her status as the world’s best over the distance at just 19 years old and end the country’s long wait for another 800m triumph. Mu, a former Youth Olympics silver medallist, led from the starter’s gun until she crossed the line after pulling well clear down the home straight. Double-double for Elaine Thompson-Herah as she storms to 200m gold “I wasn’t... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3143693/tokyo-olympics-chinas-wang-chunyu-800m-athing-mu-claims-800m-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3143693/tokyo-olympics-chinas-wang-chunyu-800m-athing-mu-claims-800m-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Aug 2021 12:42:58 +0000 Twelve-year-old Hend Zaza, Syrian table tennis prodigy and youngest athlete at the Tokyo Olympics, has been invited to train in China and is expected to arrive as early as September, state media said. Zaza, also the youngest Olympian since the 1992 Barcelona Games, lost to Austria’s Liu Jia in straight sets in the opening round of the women’s singles – her Games debut over in 24 minutes. Despite being knocked out, Zaza was a “great talent” with good rhythm and instincts, Liu, 39, told Xinhua.... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3143682/tokyo-olympics-syrian-table-tennis-prodigy-hend-zaza12-heads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3143682/tokyo-olympics-syrian-table-tennis-prodigy-hend-zaza12-heads?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Aug 2021 12:00:13 +0000 Chinese boxer Hu Jianguan has claimed that “fairness is only for the hosts” and he is a “sacrificial lamb” after being defeated by Japan’s Ryomei Tanaka in their men’s flyweight round of 16 bout. “Fairness is only for the hosts and I am nothing more than a sacrificial lamb,” Hu wrote on Weibo on Tuesday, in a since deleted post that has been widely reported in Chinese media. “During the Tokyo Olympic Games I overcame all kinds of injuries and difficulties in exchange for this ending!” Hu lost... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143646/tokyo-olympics-chinese-boxer-hu-jianguan-fumes-fairness-only-hosts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143646/tokyo-olympics-chinese-boxer-hu-jianguan-fumes-fairness-only-hosts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Aug 2021 08:53:07 +0000 China’s women’s table tennis team swatted aside Singapore in their quarter-final meeting to set-up a rematch of the Rio 2016 gold-medal match with Germany. It ended 3-0, with China only dropping one game on the way to victory, cruising into the last four inside 90 minutes. That dropped game came in the final match between Singapore’s Lin Ye and China’s Wang Manyu, though Wang subsequently won the next three. Before that, China’s Chen Meng and Wang beat Yu Mengyu and Lin 3-0 in the doubles opener... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143636/tokyo-olympics-china-swats-singapore-aside-spot-womens-team-table?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143636/tokyo-olympics-china-swats-singapore-aside-spot-womens-team-table?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Aug 2021 07:46:21 +0000 China secured gold and silver in the men’s three-metre springboard event at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on Tuesday to maintain its almost total dominance of the diving pool at these Tokyo Games. Xie Siyi scored 558.75 in the final to ensure he claimed gold, adding the Olympic title to his world title, and fending off his 3m synchro partner – with whom he already secured the gold at Tokyo 2020 – Wang Zongyuan, who took silver with 534.90. “I’ll give myself full marks,” Xie said. “It’s really not... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143633/tokyo-olympics-china-takes-gold-and-silver-3m-springboard-diving?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143633/tokyo-olympics-china-takes-gold-and-silver-3m-springboard-diving?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Aug 2021 07:32:57 +0000 China leads the medal table at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and for all of the other aspects surrounding the Games that is what counts come the closing ceremony – and where they stand in comparison to the USA and Japan. The current standings see China ahead of everyone else, although there are those in the US who are pushing the total medals rather than the number of golds, but what will happen between now and the baton being handed to Paris 2024 is anyone’s guess. Helpfully, Olympics statistics... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143611/tokyo-olympics-will-china-beat-japan-and-us-their-own-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3143611/tokyo-olympics-will-china-beat-japan-and-us-their-own-games?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Aug 2021 05:03:22 +0000