BEIJING, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
1. China sweeps five titles at Durban table tennis worlds
Gold medalist Fan Zhendong (2nd L) of China, silver medalist Wang Chuqin (1st L) of China and bronze medalists Ma Long (2nd R) and Liang Jingkun of China attend the awarding ceremony for the men's singles event at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Tao Xiyi)
China secured all five titles on offer as the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships (WTTC) Finals concluded in Durban, South Africa on May 28.
Fan Zhendong defended his men's singles title with a 4-2 victory over compatriot Wang Chuqin, one day after the two combined efforts to win the men's doubles gold.
Sun Yingsha made a career breakthrough by lifting her first World Championships singles trophy, adding to her mixed doubles victory with Wang.
Chen Meng and Wang Yidi won the women's doubles.
Two-time Olympic champion Ma Long, despite taking a bronze this time, awarded a half-size replica of the historical St. Bride Vase Trophy in recognition of his extraordinary achievement of winning the men's singles world title three consecutive times in 2015, 2017, and 2019.
2. Zhang Zhizhen makes history reaching third round at French Open
Zhang Zhizhen of China celebrates during the men's singles second round match against Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, on June 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
Zhang Zhizhen claimed a straight-set victory 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-4 over Argentina's Thiago Agustin Tirante to advance into the men's singles round of 32 at the French Open, the best record for a male player from Chinese mainland since the Open era on June 1.
His compatriot Wang Xinyu triumphed over Rebecca Peterson of Sweden in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-2, reaching the third round in Roland Garros for the first time in her career.
Zheng Qinwen, who stormed into the clay major's round of 16 in her debut last year, was knocked out by Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva in the second round, while three other Chinese singles players Zhuang Shuai, Wu Yibing and Shang Juncheng all bowed out in the first round.
3. China advance to FIBA 3x3 World Cup quarterfinals with four straight wins
China's Zhang Yi, Wan Jiyuan, Wang Lili, Zhang Zhiting (L to R) pose for photos before the FIBA 3X3 World Cup women's pool D match against Romania in Vienna, Austria, June 2, 2023. (Photo by Georges Schneider/Xinhua)
China's women's team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup as top finisher in Group D after winning all four matches in the group stage.
The 2019 World Cup winners beat Israel 21-4 and Lithuania 17-7 on May 31, before defeating Romania and Italy 21-7 and 21-18 ron June 2.
China will face winner between Germany and the Czech Republic in the quarterfinal on June 3.
4. He Bingjiao advances to women's singles final at Badminton Thailand Open
He Bingjiao of China hits a return during the women's singles quarter final against Pornpawee Chochuwog of Thailand at the BWF Thailand Open 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand, June 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
Chinese stuttler He Bingjiao beat Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark 21-13, 21-18 to reach women's singles final at the 2023 Thailand Open in Bangkok on June 3. She will face world No. 1 An Se-young in Sunday's final as the South Korean ousted Carolina Marin.
In the men's doubles, Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang came from behind to thwart Indonesia's Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 16-21, 21-15, 21-12 on June 2. However, Ren Xiangyu and Tan Qiang went down in another quarterfinal.
Lu Guangzu bowed out of the quarterfinals in men's singles after Shi Yuqi suffered shocking first-round exit. The only Chinese women's doubles in the quarterfinals Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning also fell short on June 2. No Chinese players qualified for the mixed doubles quarterfinals.
5. China claims third consecutive victory at FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League
Gong Xiangyu (C) of China celebrates during the 2023 Volleyball Nations League match against Brazil in Nagoya, Japan, May 31, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
China downed the Netherlands 27-25, 23-25, 25-22 and 25-20 on June 2 for their third victory in a row at the 2023 FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League in Nagoya, Japan.
In previous rounds, China upset Brazil 3-2 to take an opening win on May 31 and defeated Germany 3-0 on June 1.
The win over the Dutch pushed China to the second place on the Nations League table with eight points, leveling on points with leader Poland with an inferior point ratio.
6. Yao Ming headlines FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2023
Yao Ming of Houston Rockets reacts during the NBA China Games 2010 against New Jersey Nets at the Wukesong Arena in Beijing, capital of China, on Oct. 13, 2010. (Xinhua/Gong Lei)
Former Chinese superstar Yao Ming is on the list of the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2023 announced by the basketball governing body FIBA on June 2, alongside Brazilian legend Wlamir Marques and Australia's former women's world champion Penny Taylor.
Former Houston Rockets' center Yao, now the president of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), became the first international player to be picked number one overall in the 2002 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. He retired in 2011 after being selected eight times as an NBA All-Star. He also won three gold medals at the FIBA Asia Cup and his No. 11 jersey has been retired by the Rockets.■
