China Sports Weekly (11.2-11.8)

BEIJING, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:

1. Shandong's Liu wins first cross-boundary National Games cycling road race

Liu Zhicheng of Shandong broke out of a dramatic final sprint to win the men's individual road race at China's 15th National Games on November 8.

One of the Games' most anticipated events, the road race's 231.8-kilometer route crosses the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge six times without interruption, making it the first cross-boundary race in the National Games' history and the only event that connects the three host regions - Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao - in a single competition.

Liu crossed the finish line first in five hours, 17 minutes and five seconds, followed by Beijing's Xue Chaohua and Yunnan's Hu Haijie, with the podium places determined by mere centimeters.

2. First-ever cross-boundary torch relay held for China's National Games

China's National Games celebrated a milestone on November 2 as its first cross-boundary torch relay was held simultaneously in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

Following the launch ceremony in the southern coastal city of Shenzhen, the torch relay started in Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou and Shenzhen - four key cities of the Greater Bay Area.

200 torchbearers from all walks of life carried the flame, including physicist Xue Qikun and former Olympic diving champion Yang Jinghui.

Following the relay, the torch flames from the four cities converged in Guangzhou, at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center to be merged into a single flame, which will light the main cauldron at the opening ceremony on November 9.

3. Shao Jiayi appointed head coach of China's national football team

The Chinese Football Association announced on November 5 that 45-year-old Shao Jiayi has been appointed as the new head coach of China's men's national football team.

Born in 1980, Shao represented China at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and played for several seasons in Germany's Bundesliga. After retiring as a player, he served as China's assistant coach and worked with various Chinese youth national teams as team leader and assistant coach.

Shao took charge of Chinese Super League side Qingdao West Coast in July 2024. The team currently sits ninth in the CSL with nine wins, ten draws and ten losses.

4. China's Wang Yidi crowned at WTT Champions Montpellier

Third seed Wang Yidi of China edged German veteran Sabine Winter in seven games to win the women's singles title at the World Table Tennis Champions Montpellier on November 2.

Winter started faster in the final, taking the first two games 11-8, 12-10. Wang responded with 11-5 and 11-4 to level the match. Winter moved back in front with an 11-6 fifth game, but Wang forced a decider with a 12-10 sixth and closed out the title 11-9. ■