https://www.scmp.com/rss/41/feed The latest China sports news, fixtures, results and comment. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Mike Chan Mike Chan Borussia Dusseldorf manager Andreas Preuss admitted that new signing Fan Zhendong would be an inspiration to his teammates and table tennis fans around the world and he is “really excited for the future”. Olympic champion Fan, who completed a historic treble for his previous team 1. FC Saarbrucken earlier this month, joins Dusseldorf at the start of July, and manager Preuss said capturing Fan was big for the Bundesliga club and a “signing from heaven” for the league. “We will have a top player... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3356203/china-star-fan-zhendongs-new-manager-excited-future-paddler-dusseldorf?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3356203/china-star-fan-zhendongs-new-manager-excited-future-paddler-dusseldorf?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jun 2026 08:21:14 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Local students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) said they need to play “fast and smart”, and be able to utilise their style on the court when they compete at the Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) this summer. One of the six newcomers in the regional university basketball league, local champions CUHK will pit themselves against teams from China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, the Philippines and Australia, when the tournament runs from August 2 to 9 in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3356094/hong-kong-students-vowing-play-fast-and-smart-during-aubl-tournament-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3356094/hong-kong-students-vowing-play-fast-and-smart-during-aubl-tournament-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:30:06 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Triple Olympic gold medallist Quan Hongchan could miss the Asian Games in September after injury forced her out of China national team trials this weekend. According to the list of entries released on Thursday, Quan is not going to be taking part in the selection meet. She has reportedly been battling tibia and ankle problems for several months. Officials said the two-legged trials, to be held this weekend, and from June 11 to 13, would form “an important basis” for selecting the country’s squad... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355998/china-diving-star-quan-hongchan-asian-games-scare-after-injury-rules-her-out-trials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355998/china-diving-star-quan-hongchan-asian-games-scare-after-injury-rules-her-out-trials?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 02:00:22 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li A retired Chinese women’s footballer is making a name for herself online through distinctive videos, and more recently World Cup-themed content. With more than one million followers on mainland social media platform Douyin, Li Yuhang, known online as “Women Football MadeLi”, is emerging as one of China’s most prominent football influencers. Ahead of this summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States, Li has been posting videos wearing different national team jerseys and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355951/meet-beautiful-chinese-football-influencer-you-need-follow-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355951/meet-beautiful-chinese-football-influencer-you-need-follow-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:30:06 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Young footballer Li Haoyan made history on Wednesday by becoming the first player from China to sign for Barcelona’s La Masia academy. Currently playing for CF Damm in the Division de Honor Catalana Infantil in Spain, the top-tier regional youth league, the 14-year-old will join Barcelona’s Cadet B, the club’s under-15 side, next season. Born on January 28, 2012, Li began his journey playing for his father’s Dalian No 8 Football Club, which was aimed at grass-roots youth training. He joined the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355921/young-chinese-footballer-makes-history-signing-barcelonas-famed-la-masia-academy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355921/young-chinese-footballer-makes-history-signing-barcelonas-famed-la-masia-academy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:44:31 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Table tennis star Wang Chuqin had been named captain of the China men’s team, succeeding Ma Long after the veteran’s decade-long stint in the role. The appointment was announced at an internal debriefing after the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships by head coach Wang Hao, who said Wang had “shown the spirit and responsibility of the national team during preparations and competition at the World Championships in London”. Liang Jingkun was named vice-captain at the same time, and the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355840/wang-handed-honour-leading-china-table-tennis-takes-captains-baton-ma-long?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355840/wang-handed-honour-leading-china-table-tennis-takes-captains-baton-ma-long?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:05:36 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang While Song Yadong entered the arena uplifted by the theme song of Sun Wukong, or Monkey God, and “fighting doctor” Shi Ming checked the pulse of the opponent she subdued in the Octagon, the big question is why both victorious MMA fighters have felt the need to keep proving themselves. As UFC Fight Night Macau concluded on Saturday night, only Song out of seven Chinese competitors on the card secured a victory, defeating Brazilian ground specialist and former champion Deiveson Figueiredo via a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355478/song-yadong-and-shi-ming-chinas-ufc-winners-macau-prove-themselves-yet-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355478/song-yadong-and-shi-ming-chinas-ufc-winners-macau-prove-themselves-yet-again?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:18 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Song Yadong got the victory he and his fans so desperately wanted in Macau on Saturday, submitting Deiveson Figueiredo in their bantamweight bout at UFC Fight Night. The Chinese fighter had come into the contest on the back of a difficult loss to Sean O’Malley, but put himself right back in the title conversation with an impressive performance against the former featherweight world champion. After testing each other’s strengths and weaknesses in a cagey opening, Song really started to pull... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355430/ufc-fight-night-song-raises-spirits-bad-night-chinese-fighters-macau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355430/ufc-fight-night-song-raises-spirits-bad-night-chinese-fighters-macau?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 May 2026 15:30:05 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu wore academic gowns to take graduation photos with faculty and peers as members of the undergraduate class of 2019 at Shanghai Jiao Tong University on Thursday. The two Olympic table tennis champions will head to Tsinghua University this September to pursue master’s degrees in sports studies. Aged 25 and 29 respectively, the duo entered Shanghai Jiao Tong University seven years ago under an exam-exemption scheme, majoring in human resource management at the Antai... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355369/chinese-table-tennis-stars-sun-yingsha-wang-manyu-finish-undergraduate-studies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355369/chinese-table-tennis-stars-sun-yingsha-wang-manyu-finish-undergraduate-studies?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 May 2026 02:00:20 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball UFC boss Kevin Chang believes Macau will be the organisation’s “launch pad to Asia” in 2026, and sees a hunger for the sport not yet served by those already dominant in the region. The promotion returns to the Galaxy Arena this weekend, with an event co-headlined by China stars Song Yadong and Zhang Mingyang on a main card featuring five more of their compatriots. There will have been two days of action by then, with season five of Road to UFC opening up what Chang, UFC’s senior vice-president... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355373/macau-will-be-launch-pad-asia-promotion-looks-east-ufc-boss-kevin-chang-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355373/macau-will-be-launch-pad-asia-promotion-looks-east-ufc-boss-kevin-chang-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 15:30:06 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li China’s Zhang Keyi broke the women’s 100m hurdles meet record on Friday at the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Kai Tak, clocking 13.38 seconds to win gold on the second day of competition. The 16-year-old finished just 0.03 seconds outside her personal best of 13.35, set last August, and bettered the time she clocked when she lowered the meet record at the Asian Youth Games last October, when she ran 13.51. Japan’s Nana Ishihara took silver in 13.76, while Kazakhstan’s Alina Golovina... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355367/chinas-zhang-keyi-wins-womens-100m-hurdles-asian-u20-championships-record-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355367/chinas-zhang-keyi-wins-womens-100m-hurdles-asian-u20-championships-record-time?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 13:21:44 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang The swimmer whose wardrobe malfunction was shown online has said she might sue organisers, while a total photography ban at a beach volleyball tournament in Japan has opened up a fresh debate about athlete protection. At the annual Xing-Quan Dishui Lake Swim-Crossing Challenge, several three-quarter shots of a female swimmer accidentally exposing herself were displayed on an official tournament platform for more than 10,000 users for over an hour. The victim, Ms Chen, said it had taken four days... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355188/japan-bans-all-photography-beach-volleyball-over-voyeurism-china-swimsuit-mum-could-sue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355188/japan-bans-all-photography-beach-volleyball-over-voyeurism-china-swimsuit-mum-could-sue?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:06 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara When English photographer Sean Gallagher has decided he is keen on something, there is no going back. Intrigued by China as a child, when his father would return home from business trips armed with “trinkets and photos”, Gallagher duly relocated to the country at 26. Spending countless hours on his bike during Covid, he grew into a “cycling addict”. It made sense to 46-year-old Gallagher, then, that he should mark the 20th anniversary of his move by embarking on a ride that celebrated his “long,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355073/conquering-great-wall-record-time-labour-love-expat-cycling-duo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355073/conquering-great-wall-record-time-labour-love-expat-cycling-duo?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 04:00:05 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Proving that age is just a number, an 82-year-old grandfather broke a national age-group record in the 80m hurdles at the 2026 China Masters Athletics Championships. At the event held in Changsha this month, the nearly white-haired Ding Ming stood at the starting line in lightweight sportswear, his posture slightly stooped yet firm. Once the starting gun fired, he blasted off with a steady, solid stride, clearing the hurdles with crisp efficiency that defied his advanced years. Clocking 16.73... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355056/grandfather-proves-age-just-number-after-breaking-80m-hurdles-record-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355056/grandfather-proves-age-just-number-after-breaking-80m-hurdles-record-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 11:30:05 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang The Chinese women’s team were in the midst of an injury crisis after key members pulled out of the coming Volleyball Nations League (VNL), prompting fans to question the high-intensity training associated with the so-called “women’s volleyball spirit”. Just one week before the first stop of the VNL in Nanjing, head coach Zhao Yong admitted that injuries were hampering preparations. In a recent interview, Zhao confirmed that 23-year-old rising outside hitter Wu Mengjie required knee surgery due... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355006/china-womens-volleyball-team-hit-injuries-key-players-pull-out-nations-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3355006/china-womens-volleyball-team-hit-injuries-key-players-pull-out-nations-league?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 07:19:26 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Photos of a female swimmer who suffered a wardrobe malfunction were displayed on an official race platform for more than an hour during a mainland open-water event, with organisers blaming the vetting lapse on the high volume of contestants. Another athlete, surnamed Zhang, condemned the “inappropriate photography” at the 2026 Xing-Quan Dishui Lake Swim-Crossing Challenge on her social media account three days ago, but organisers had not issued an official statement or apology by Tuesday. The... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354907/chinese-event-organisers-slammed-after-displaying-photos-swimmers-wardrobe-malfunction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354907/chinese-event-organisers-slammed-after-displaying-photos-swimmers-wardrobe-malfunction?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan German table tennis great Timo Boll sees Fan Zhendong as a sensitive and open-minded individual with a constant desire to explore, learn and improve, both as a player and as a person. The now-retired former World Cup winner also said that his friendship with China’s Olympic champion, who is 16 years his junior, had evolved into something far beyond the sporting realm ever since they first competed against each other in Suzhou in 2015. Boll was unable to beat his close friend in 11 attempts, but... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354860/east-gets-west-surprising-friendship-between-chinese-and-german-table-tennis-stars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354860/east-gets-west-surprising-friendship-between-chinese-and-german-table-tennis-stars?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 09:30:05 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang A new women’s javelin Asian record of 71.74 metres has served as a coming-of-age gift for Chinese youngster Yan Ziyi, achieved as it was a day after her 18th birthday at the Diamond League Xiamen. On Saturday night, the teenage phenom significantly raised the Asian record by nearly four metres to claim the gold medal on her very first attempt before passing on her remaining five throws, while also climbing to second on the world all-time list. The performance shattered the previous Asian mark of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354803/meet-yan-ziyi-chinese-teen-who-cannot-give-and-taking-womens-javelin-storm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354803/meet-yan-ziyi-chinese-teen-who-cannot-give-and-taking-womens-javelin-storm?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 02:00:12 +0000 Reuters Reuters Marta ⁠Kostyuk, the 15th seed from Ukraine, and China’s 32nd-ranked Wang Xinyu were among the early winners as the French Open got under way under a blazing sun at Roland Garros on Sunday. Wang, China’s top-ranked player in Paris after Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen crashed out of the top 50 in the latest rankings, beat Austria’s Lilli Tagger 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in just over two hours. The 24-year-old from Guangdong will now face either Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch or Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3354690/french-open-chinas-wang-xinyu-wins-opener-ukraines-marta-kostyuk-keeps-focus-paris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3354690/french-open-chinas-wang-xinyu-wins-opener-ukraines-marta-kostyuk-keeps-focus-paris?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 12:13:13 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Yan Ziyi gave notice of a new force in women’s javelin at the World Athletics Diamond League meeting in Xiamen, obliterating the Asian record with a performance that came close to setting a new world best. The Chinese 18-year-old’s first throw of 71.74 metres easily eclipsed the previous regional high of 67.98m held by compatriot Lyu Huihui, and also shattered Yan’s own junior world record of 65.89m. Such was the strength of her performance on Saturday that Yan’s distance would not only have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354664/chinese-teen-shatters-asian-world-junior-javelin-record-goes-close-new-worlds-best?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354664/chinese-teen-shatters-asian-world-junior-javelin-record-goes-close-new-worlds-best?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 06:48:19 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang The Chinese national youth team finished runners-up in the AFC U17 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia after losing 3-2 to Japan in the final, despite a spirited second-half comeback. The match in the early hours of Saturday marked China’s return to the U17 Asian Cup final for the first time in 22 years, and the run to the showpiece match secured qualification for the 2026 Fifa U-17 World Cup. Japan’s Tafuku Satomi opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a shot into the far corner, before Sho Saito... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354615/china-youth-team-finish-runners-afc-u17-asian-cup-after-narrow-defeat-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354615/china-youth-team-finish-runners-afc-u17-asian-cup-after-narrow-defeat-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 07:13:22 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang China’s “fighting doctor” Shi Ming has spent the past two months doing intensive overtime to gather enough leave for her Ultimate Fighting Championship bout next week, when she will face another kind of pressure: fighting with “half the world” watching her. Shi, who works at a hospital in Kunming, will face India’s top female fighter in the championship for Road to UFC Season 5 starting at the Octagon in Macau on Thursday. She is scheduled to compete in the opening round on the second day. The... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354581/chinese-fighting-doctor-shi-ming-set-next-ufc-foe-half-world-watching?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354581/chinese-fighting-doctor-shi-ming-set-next-ufc-foe-half-world-watching?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang In women’s long-distance running, athletes typically rely on coaches or professional pacers for motivation, but at a university sports event recently held in northern China, one student was encouraged by a fluffy, five-month-old campus resident named Bandeng. The stray puppy became an overnight internet sensation after a video of it entering the track to accompany a female student at the end of her 3,000-metre race gained millions of views on Chinese social media platforms. The dog must have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354482/every-dog-has-its-day-stray-puppy-steals-show-chinese-university-sports-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354482/every-dog-has-its-day-stray-puppy-steals-show-chinese-university-sports-event?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 06:10:22 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Former Chinese Super League star Qiu Zhonghui has stated that he started working as a food delivery rider to gain life experiences, not more followers online. The 48-year-old previously played for the Jianlibao Youth Team, a famous youth development project sent to Brazil in the 1990s to nurture young Chinese talent through an intensive programme. He also played for Qingdao Hainiu and Beijing Guoan, before committing to youth training. He drew widespread attention after posting videos on social... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354398/ex-chinese-super-league-star-swaps-football-pitch-food-delivery-gain-life-insights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354398/ex-chinese-super-league-star-swaps-football-pitch-food-delivery-gain-life-insights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 13:00:18 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Chinese table tennis megastar Sun Yingsha said she could resonate with the late Kobe Bryant after reading the autobiography of the former Los Angeles Lakers superstar during the closed training period before the World Championships. China beat Japan 3-2 in the women’s final at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in London behind two solid wins from Sun, who remained undefeated in nine outings in the English capital as China won their 24th world title. In a pre-recorded interview with state... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354381/chinas-kobe-sun-yingsha-deeply-inspired-after-reading-book-late-nba-star-bryant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354381/chinas-kobe-sun-yingsha-deeply-inspired-after-reading-book-late-nba-star-bryant?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 11:00:14 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang A Chinese women’s basketball team was hit with a three-year suspension on Wednesday, while one of its officials and a player were banned for life for their roles in a match-fixing scheme. Inner Mongolia Nongxin, who will not be allowed to compete until May 2029, were also stripped of the runners-up position they secured in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association’s 2023-24 season, while two other officials were handed three-year bans. In announcing the punishments, the CBA said a court had... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3354238/chinese-basketball-team-gets-3-year-ban-match-fixing-club-boss-player-out-life?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3354238/chinese-basketball-team-gets-3-year-ban-match-fixing-club-boss-player-out-life?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 11:30:06 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Zheng Qinwen could face a tough draw at the French Open this weekend, after crashing out of the top 50 for the first time in almost four years. A drop of 21 spots in the latest rankings, which were released on Monday, has sent Zheng to 53rd in the world, meaning she will be unseeded for the year’s second grand slam. The Olympic gold medallist, who won at Roland Garros during the 2024 Games in Paris, could now face the likes of 2025 runner-up Aryna Sabalenka or four-time winner Iga Swiatek in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354054/chinas-zheng-qinwen-crashes-out-womens-top-50-faces-tough-french-open-singles-draw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3354054/chinas-zheng-qinwen-crashes-out-womens-top-50-faces-tough-french-open-singles-draw?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 08:00:05 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan There was no loss of love for Fan Zhendong after his 1. FC Saarbruecken team retained their Champions League men’s title on Sunday, despite the Chinese table tennis star losing both of his matches. Powered by Olympic silver medallist Truls Moregard, the German side, playing at home, overcame French rivals Alliance Nimes/Montpellier 3-2 in a dramatic final at the Saarlandhalle. And while not involved with the China national team, state broadcaster CCTV, and six other different platforms screened... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353941/feeling-love-fan-gets-outpouring-support-despite-mixed-champs-league-finals-display?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353941/feeling-love-fan-gets-outpouring-support-despite-mixed-champs-league-finals-display?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 06:28:27 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Furious Chinese fans have blasted the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) after official merchandise for the World Team Table Tennis Championships twice got the nation’s flag wrong. Posters, T-shirts and hoodies, priced between £35 (HK$350) and £67, all celebrating the victories for the country’s men and women, initially featured a flag with six stars, not five as it should have done. Fans first spotted the error on Friday, and flooded social media with complaints directed at the ITTF... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353851/china-flag-row-erupts-after-table-tennis-chiefs-add-extra-star-team-title-merchandise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353851/china-flag-row-erupts-after-table-tennis-chiefs-add-extra-star-team-title-merchandise?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 04:00:29 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Armand “Mondo” Duplantis cruised to pole vault victory in the opening Diamond League meeting of the season on Saturday, but failed to improve his own world record. There was a surprise in the men’s 100m as Gift Leotlela of South Africa pipped Ferdinand Omanyala and Kenneth Bednarek in a photo finish to win a Diamond League event for the first time. High-quality women’s 200m and 100m hurdles were won by Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson and Olympic champion Masai Russell, respectively, but Karsten... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353837/armand-duplantis-wins-shanghai-diamond-league-meet-fails-world-record-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353837/armand-duplantis-wins-shanghai-diamond-league-meet-fails-world-record-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 14:31:53 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Global snooker chiefs are not concerned that a new professional league in China will lead to a player talent drain, instead seeing it as a pathway into the elite world tour rather than a direct rival. The newly formed China Billiards Club Professional League, which gets under way next week, features eight teams across Chinese cities playing 432 matches, in a home-and-away format, before an inaugural champion is crowned in late December. Largely focused on giving the country’s rising stars... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353723/chinas-new-professional-league-not-threat-world-snooker-tour-sports-chiefs-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353723/chinas-new-professional-league-not-threat-world-snooker-tour-sports-chiefs-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:12 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Chinese diving starlet Quan Hongchan has again split opinion on social media, this time by posting an emotional update about her sick mother’s return to hospital. In releasing a limited-time live-story update on her official Douyin account, Quan posted a photo of her mother lying in bed in hospital. The picture, which shows Quan holding Feng Lingmei’s hand, comes with the touching caption “Love you, mum”. Her father, Quan Wenmao, who is a farmer, also shared details about his wife’s time being... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353698/olympic-champion-quan-hongchans-emotional-post-over-mums-health-woes-divides-internet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353698/olympic-champion-quan-hongchans-emotional-post-over-mums-health-woes-divides-internet?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 09:30:05 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang The surge in popularity in long-distance running in China has made the chances of securing a spot in a marathon “harder than winning the lottery”, but experts believe this demand only masks deep-seated issues in professional competitive performance in the country. He Wenyi, secretary general of the national sports industry research base at Peking University, told the South China Morning Post that while mass participation was soaring, a fundamental disconnect existed between China’s running... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353508/chinas-marathon-boom-masks-failings-elite-competitive-performance-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353508/chinas-marathon-boom-masks-failings-elite-competitive-performance-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:11 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Japan’s table tennis players have said they were closing the gap with China, but beating world No 1 Sun Yingsha was a must if they are to ever win gold. They said their narrow defeat to China in the World Team Table Tennis Championships final last weekend has offered fresh insight into how the gap between the two sides can be closed, with one key being the need to break away from conventional styles. Japan’s women’s team lost 3-2 to China in London on Sunday, extending their run of silver medals... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353603/gap-china-closing-japanese-table-tennis-team-say-beating-sun-yingsha-still-key?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353603/gap-china-closing-japanese-table-tennis-team-say-beating-sun-yingsha-still-key?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 16:00:05 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Olympic gold medallists Sun Yang and Wang Meng are quickly learning that sporting heroics do not necessarily mean being a fan favourite in later life. The pair have both appeared on reality shows on Chinese television in recent weeks, and the reaction has not always been kind, certainly where Sun is concerned. Branded “immature” for his behaviour on travel show Viva La Romance, one incident in particular riled viewers. In it, Sun, acting as his group’s guide, goes in the wrong direction, refuses... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353597/back-reality-chinese-athletes-they-make-painful-transition-life-after-sport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353597/back-reality-chinese-athletes-they-make-painful-transition-life-after-sport?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Fifa’s Secretary General said during a visit to China this week that he hoped to see Chinese youth teams competing on the world stage at future World Cups across different age groups – and two of the country’s under-17 teams qualified to do just that this week. Speaking at China’s National Football Youth Training Centre on Tuesday, Mattias Grafstrom said that now there was an under-17 World Cup every year, “we hope to see China there, both the boys and the girls”. Coincidentally, China’s youth... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3353571/youth-teams-make-world-cup-fifa-bigwig-says-he-hopes-see-china-back-world-stage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3353571/youth-teams-make-world-cup-fifa-bigwig-says-he-hopes-see-china-back-world-stage?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 09:53:07 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan A former coach of Chinese snooker rising star Wu Yize said the reigning world champion was playing a “perfect” game and did not need to change anything going forward. The Chinese youngster could also be considered a better player than a couple of other former world champions when they were at his current age of 22. Well regarded as one of the most aggressive and offensive players, Wu was often labelled a scoring machine with few safety games to his credit, but Django Fung, who coached Wu for 13... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353529/chinas-world-snooker-champion-wu-yize-playing-perfect-game-says-ex-coach-django-fung?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353529/chinas-world-snooker-champion-wu-yize-playing-perfect-game-says-ex-coach-django-fung?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 07:00:47 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li The Great Wall Marathon, in which runners will tackle more than 5,000 steps and slopes of 70 degrees in parts, will return on Saturday – as will 67-year-old Henrik Brandt, the only runner to have completed all 22 previous editions of the race. Brandt from Denmark, who has travelled to China each year specifically for the marathon, will join more than 2,000 runners from 61 countries and regions in a race billed as China’s most expensive marathon and one of its toughest. “Because it was here that... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353320/danish-pensioner-continues-22-year-love-affair-chinas-great-wall-marathon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353320/danish-pensioner-continues-22-year-love-affair-chinas-great-wall-marathon?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 04:00:06 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li China’s table tennis authorities have come under fire online after announcing their selection criteria for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September. The Chinese Table Tennis Association released the criteria on Tuesday, with different standards for the men’s and women’s teams. The selections will determine the five-player line-ups for the team events, with the same five players used for the five individual events: men’s singles, women’s singles, mixed doubles, men’s doubles and women’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353453/online-community-attacks-selection-criteria-chinas-asian-games-table-tennis-teams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353453/online-community-attacks-selection-criteria-chinas-asian-games-table-tennis-teams?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 16:00:10 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Back-to-back world snooker championship victories by China’s Zhao Xintong and Wu Yize have sparked the formation of a new Chinese Billiards Club Professional League. Launched on Sunday, the new CBL will feature eight teams competing over the course of eight months, playing 432 matches in a home-and-away format, with the first fixtures scheduled for next Wednesday. League position will determine the draw for the quarter-finals in early October, with a grand final schedule for the last week in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353271/china-launches-8-team-pro-snooker-league-targets-becoming-powerhouse-sport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353271/china-launches-8-team-pro-snooker-league-targets-becoming-powerhouse-sport?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:32 +0000 Mike Chan,Stephy Zhang Mike Chan,Stephy Zhang China’s men and women continued their total dominance of the World Team Table Tennis Championships in London on Sunday, and the former’s easy win over Japan again raised questions about the future of star Fan Zhendong. The Olympic champion has not played for his country since claiming gold in Paris two years ago, and quit the International Table Tennis Federation rankings just months later. While he has kept busy playing in Germany and in some tournaments at home, there has been little sign of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353162/no-fan-no-problem-chinas-men-questions-remain-over-olympic-champs-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353162/no-fan-no-problem-chinas-men-questions-remain-over-olympic-champs-future?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 11:00:05 +0000 SCMP Sport,Bloomberg SCMP Sport,Bloomberg China fans have been told to stop holding lavish celebrations of athletes’ birthdays, with officials reminding them “to stay rational”. The warning came in response to news of large gatherings to mark the 26th birthday of table tennis star Wang Chuqin on Monday. Posters of the world No 1, who guided his men’s side to the World Team Table Tennis Championships title in London on Sunday, had already appeared in various shopping centres, with additional reports indicating fans were planning drone... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353148/china-tells-fans-stop-celebrating-athletes-birthdays-warns-about-wasting-resources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353148/china-tells-fans-stop-celebrating-athletes-birthdays-warns-about-wasting-resources?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 09:30:04 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Wu Yize and Zhao Xintong’s victories at the World Championship will help to boost the growth of snooker in China, while removing the stench of corruption and match-fixing, sport insiders believe. Jason Ferguson, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, previously suggested the interest that greeted Wu’s triumph over Shaun Murphy could help the sport’s Olympics ambitions. And Django Fung, who manages top players, including world No 2 Neil Robertson and Murphy, said... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353032/snooker-boom-can-raise-sport-level-table-tennis-china-end-stench-match-fixing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353032/snooker-boom-can-raise-sport-level-table-tennis-china-end-stench-match-fixing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:19 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Fifa officials are reportedly flying to China in a bid to get the country’s state broadcaster to buy the television rights to this year’s World Cup, and are offering to slash the asking price by more than 50 per cent. Originally demanding US$300 million, the drop to between US$120 million and US$150 million is still some way above the US$80 million CCTV had said it would pay. According to local media, a delegation including Mattias Grafstrom, the world governing body’s secretary general, and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353049/fifa-officials-head-china-discuss-bargain-broadcasting-deal-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3353049/fifa-officials-head-china-discuss-bargain-broadcasting-deal-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 11:16:00 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong Bulls are expected to learn their fate about playing in the top tier of the Chinese basketball league before the final match of its current playoff season on June 14. The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) is looking to integrate its league and the separately operated second-tier National Basketball League (NBL), which would mean the “NBL ceases to exist”. The move follows the CBA’s announcement in September last year that they would align the calendars of the two leagues. The Bulls,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3352792/hong-kong-bulls-anxiously-wait-learn-fate-about-competing-top-tier-cba-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3352792/hong-kong-bulls-anxiously-wait-learn-fate-about-competing-top-tier-cba-league?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Former world champion gymnast Wu Liufang said she has “regained her dignity” after paying off her family’s debt through her cultural heritage dance videos on social media. The 31-year-old said in a video interview published by a mainland news outlet on Wednesday that the medical costs to treat her parents’ illnesses totalled about 400,000 yuan (US$55,000), which made life difficult for her family in her hometown of Liuzhou, Guangxi. Wu won multiple World Cup titles on the balance beam and uneven... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3352717/ex-china-gymnast-regains-dignity-after-paying-familys-debt-through-cultural-videos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3352717/ex-china-gymnast-regains-dignity-after-paying-familys-debt-through-cultural-videos?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Associated Press,Agence France-Presse Associated Press,Agence France-Presse Snooker’s bid to enter the Olympic Games will be boosted by having back-to-back world champions from China, the sport’s top official said on Tuesday. Wu Yize beat Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a dramatic world championship final on Monday to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Zhao Xintong, who became Asia’s first world champion 12 months ago. Britain has long been snooker’s traditional stronghold but China, where there are around 300,000 recognised snooker clubs, is the growing force in the game,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3352530/snookers-push-get-olympics-gets-jolt-chinas-back-back-world-champions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3352530/snookers-push-get-olympics-gets-jolt-chinas-back-back-world-champions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 15:00:17 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan In the history of the game, there had only ever been one snooker world champion from China before Monday – then Wu Yize doubled that number at the Crucible Theatre in thrilling fashion. An 18-17 victory over Shaun Murphy, hailed as marking the “golden era of Chinese snooker”, has propelled the 22-year-old to superstardom in his home country, with the hashtag “Wu Yize wins the World Championship” getting 40 million views on social media platform Weibo, where it topped the list of trending topics... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3352481/meet-wu-yize-new-snooker-world-champion-marking-games-golden-era-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3352481/meet-wu-yize-new-snooker-world-champion-marking-games-golden-era-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 09:30:05 +0000 Associated Press,Agence France-Presse Associated Press,Agence France-Presse Wu Yize became snooker’s second straight world champion from China after beating Shaun Murphy in a dramatic final-frame decider at the Crucible Theatre on Monday. With his 18-17 victory, the 22-year-old Wu is the second-youngest winner of the worlds after Stephen Hendry at age 21 in 1990. Wu follows in the footsteps of Zhao Xintong, who 12 months ago became the first-ever champion from Asia in a milestone moment for a game whose stronghold has always been in Britain. “All of a sudden, the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3352430/world-snooker-championship-chinas-wu-yize-wins-title-first-time-dramatic-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3352430/world-snooker-championship-chinas-wu-yize-wins-title-first-time-dramatic-final?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 02:07:37 +0000 Reuters Reuters Millions of football fans in the world’s two most populous nations may not be able to watch the World Cup, which starts next month, because of a deadlock over broadcast rights in India and no official decision in China. In India, a Reliance-Disney joint venture has offered US$20 million for 2026 World Cup broadcast rights, a fraction of Fifa’s ask, which was not acceptable to football’s global governing body, two sources said on Monday. Sony ‌held talks but also decided not to make an offer for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3352400/fifa-faces-world-cup-broadcast-crisis-after-india-makes-low-rights-offer-no-china-decision?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3352400/fifa-faces-world-cup-broadcast-crisis-after-india-makes-low-rights-offer-no-china-decision?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 14:00:12 +0000