2LT National News

BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) — Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:

1. China Open main draw kicks off

Main draw matches got underway at the China Open on September 24. Paris Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, the seventh seed, cruised past Colombia’s Emiliana Arango 6-3, 6-2 in the women’s singles second round on September 27.

She advanced after a first-round bye, marking her first official match since undergoing surgery on her right elbow in July. In the third round, Zheng will face Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic.

Veteran Zhang Shuai defeated fellow Chinese player Wang Xinyu 6-4, 6-2 in the women’s singles second round of the China Open on September 26, claiming her first win over the 31st seed in four attempts.

Last year Zhang ended a 24-match losing streak with a run to the Beijing quarterfinals, reviving her career. Once again underestimated, she has battled through to the third round, where she will meet world No. 4 Amanda Anisimova of the United States.

In men’s action, China’s top-ranked player Bu Yunchaokete was beaten 6-4, 6-0 by third seed Alex de Minaur of Australia on the Diamond Court. De Minaur struck 10 aces, faced only one break point which he saved, and swept the final six games to seal victory.

2. Home players through at WTT China Smash singles qualifiers

The 2025 World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash opened at Beijing’s Shougang Park on September 25, while Chinese paddlers got off to a good start and most made it through to the second round of the singles qualifiers.

The three-round men’s and women’s singles qualifiers will decide eight spots each for the main draw, which begins on September 28.

As the fourth and final WTT Grand Smash tournament of 2025, the China Smash runs through October 5, with five titles on offer, namely men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.

3. Long Jianguo wins China’s first men’s speed climbing world’s title in 13 years

China’s Long Jianguo captured his first world title in men’s speed climbing here on September 25 at the 2025 IFSC Climbing World Championships, marking the first time in 13 years that a Chinese male speed climber has won a World Championships gold.

Long, 22, topped the final in 4.80 seconds, narrowly defeating Germany’s Leander Carmanns by 0.19 seconds. He advanced to the final with consistently strong performances, completing each run in under five seconds, overcoming competitors from Ukraine, Spain and Iran.

“I’m very happy,” said Long, who won the World Cup in Wujiang earlier this year. “The pressure from my opponents pushed me to keep breaking through, and I feel this also marks a new milestone and a fresh start for China.”

The last Chinese climber to win this title was Zhong Qixin, who clinched four consecutive IFSC World Championship men’s speed climbing golds between 2007 and 2012.

4. Chinese runners make breakthroughs at 2025 TORX ultra-trail race

The 2025 Tor des Geants (TORX) ultra-trail race concluded on September 21 with Chinese runners posting historic results across multiple categories in Courmayeur, a town in Italy’s Aosta Valley.

Zhang Weiqiang of the KAILAS FUGA Team finished sixth in the 330-kilometer classic race in 74 hours, 33 minutes and 59 seconds, breaking the Asian record and setting the best-ever result for a Chinese runner at the event.

“My goal coming here was to break the Asian record,” said Zhang, 41, who also completed the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc earlier this season. He credited consistent pacing and careful preparation for his success.

5. China’s Weng, Jia/Zhang seize two titles at badminton China Masters

China’s Weng Hongyang claimed the men’s singles title, while Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian secured the women’s doubles victory at the 2025 BWF China Masters here on September 21.

Weng triumphed over Lin Chun-yi of Chinese Taipei 21-11, 21-15. “I performed quite well with clear tactics and mindset,” commented Weng. “My consistency comes from all-around preparation in both life and training.”

In a gruelling women’s doubles final that lasted approximately 80 minutes, Jia and Zhang overcame Kim Hye-jeong and Kong Hee-yong of South Korea 21-19, 16-21, 21-13.

“I told Zhang to treat it like an Olympic final. If we don’t overcome difficulties on court, we won’t have another chance,” said Jia, adding that the title reaffirmed her self-belief and motivation. “It proves I still have what it takes.”