China's sporting highlights of 2014

Updated: 2015-01-09 09:35

(China Daily USA)

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In the past year, Chinese athletes claimed 98 world champion titles on the world stage and sports for all has been boosted across the nation

1. State Council issues a new plan to boost sports, mass fitness

At a State Council executive meeting on Sept 2, China's central government unveiled plans to accelerate the development of sports, urging related organizations to scrap two-decade-old rules requiring administrative approval for organizing commercial and mass fitness sporting events. It also encouraged private investors and non-governmental groups to be involved.

A national guideline approved by the State Council in October further underscored the need to "unburden enterprises" and promote "all kinds of sporting resources".

The guideline also required State-owned sports venues to become more accessible to the public.

It urged relevant authorities to optimize the market for sports tourism, fitness services and athletic rehabilitation businesses.

China's sporting highlights of 2014

2. First mass sports report

The first Annual Report on Development of Sport for All in China was published on Aug 5.

The report, which was jointly compiled by the mass fitness department of the General Administration of Sport and Beijing Sports University, is expected to offer multiple resources to the development of China's mass fitness market.

More than 15,000 mass sports organizations have been set up in the country and more than 800,000 amateur sports groups are online, according to the report.

The various sports groups have reached out to rural and urban communities, encouraging the public to exercise and providing fitness services and guidance.

At the recent Beijing Magnificent Sports Meet, amateur athletes from 37 grassroots sports associations competed at the multi-event mass sporting tournament. In the Huilongguan community of a north Beijing suburb, an amateur soccer league by local citizens has run into its 11th season, becoming a popular mass fitness sporting brand.

China's sporting highlights of 2014

3. Chinese speed skating strikes gold at 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics

Zhang Hong, a 25-year-old female skater from Heilongjiang province, made history by winning the first long-track speed skating Olympic gold medal for China in the women's 1,000m in 1 min 14.02 sec, becoming the first Chinese athlete to do so since the country first competed at the Winter Olympics in 1980.

The Chinese contingent completed its Sochi campaign with three gold, four silver and two bronze medals with contributions from short-track speed skating and freestyle ski aerials, ranking 12th at the final medal tally ahead of major Asian opponents. Although China's standing dropped from seventh in Vancouver to 12th this time, it is the second best result that the country has gained at the Winter Olympics. The breakthrough performance fueled Beijing's bid, with nearby co-host city Zhangjiakou in Hebei province, for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The capital made the official IOC candidate list for 2022 on July 7.

China's sporting highlights of 2014

4. Nanjing Youth Olympics wraps up celebrations

The second Summer Youth Olympic Games was held from Aug 16 to 28 in Nanjing, the historic capital of Jiangsu province. During the 12-day youth sporting event, more than 3,700 athletes from around the world competed and took part in cultural exchanges. Promoting the concepts of youth, sharing, unity and frugality, the event earned accolades from members of the global Olympic Family.

The 123-athlete Chinese delegation performed well at the YOG, winning 37 gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze medals. Off the court, young Chinese Olympians participated in more than 20 categories of cultural and educational activities, deepening their understanding of history, humanity and cultural diversity.

China's sporting highlights of 2014

5. Li Na retires after achieving Grand Slam goal

Chinese tennis player Li Na defeated Slovakian ace Dominika Cibulkova at the women's singles final of the 2014 Australian Open on Jan 25, winning her second Grand Slam trophy after the 2011 French Open victory, at her third final appearance in Melbourne.

Following the epic win, Li's world ranking rose to world No 2, making her the first Asian to attain that level. Having realized both goals of winning another major or entering the world top 3 spots that she set in 2013, Li announced her retirement from tennis via her micro blog on Sept 19. She cited a serious right-knee injury which forced her to quit the game. There was overwhelming praise from the Women's Tennis Association, Chinese Tennis Association, fellow athletes, global media and fans for the 32-year-old Wuhan native at her farewell party at the National Tennis Center in Beijing on Sept 30.

China's sporting highlights of 2014

6. Ding Junhui reaches world No 1 in snooker ranking, fueling popularity of game

Ding Junhui, China's snooker prodigy, became the first Asian player to earn the world No 1 spot on Dec 4, after bagging enough points at the UK Championship to take over Mark Selby. Ding, who won a record-equalizing five ranking titles last season, became the 11th world No 1 after high-profile stars like Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan. Neil Robertson surpassed Ding for the top spot 11 days later, but the Chinese player remains a game changer. The World Professional Billiard and Snooker Association took half of its ranking tournaments to China thanks to the game's increasing popularity.

China's sporting highlights of 2014

7. Ning Zetao becomes swimming sensation after successful Asian Games campaign

Despite massive interest in the rivalry between China's Olympic champion swimmer Sun Yang and his archrival Park Tae-hwan of host South Korea, 21-year-old Ning Zetao stole the spotlight in the pool at the Incheon Asian Games with his four-gold performance and marketable looks.

The swimmer has risen from obscurity after winning gold medals in the men's 50m and 100m freestyles with new Asian records.

He also won the 4x100m free relay and the 4x100m medley relay with teammates.

Ning, who also trains in Australia, expects to make breakthroughs for Chinese swimming in sprint events at the 2015 World Championships and the 2016 Olympics.

China's sporting highlights of 2014

8. Men's 4x100m relay team breaks Asian record

Boasting a lineup of Chen Shiwei, Xie Zhenye, Su Bingtian and Zhang Peimeng, the Chinese men's 4x100m relay team smashed the previous Asian record held by Japan to win the gold medal in 37.99 sec at the Incheon Asian Games final on Oct 2.

The result ranked as the fourth fastest relay time in the world this season and could have won a medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

The victory consolidated China as a new power in Asian sprint events, which Japan had dominated.

China's sporting highlights of 2014

9. Men's team clinches 1st Chess Olympiad crown

China won its first gold medal at the 41st Chess Olympiad in Norway on Aug 14, becoming the first Asian country to take the men's team title while breaking Western countries' dominance for the first time since 1927.

Following female chess player Xie Jun's inaugural world championship title and the women's team's four consecutive wins at the Olympiad, the Chinese men's team finally achieved the breakthrough.

China's sporting highlights of 2014

10.Sports lottery celebrates 20-year mark

China's sports lottery in April marked its 20th year following its first nationwide issue in 1994. Managed by the State sports lottery administrative center, it had by March 31 accumulated total sales revenue of 735.4 billion yuan ($118.5 billion).

It has also raised public welfare funds totaling 211.9 billion yuan and provided 500,000 jobs in its sales network and branches.

The issuing of the lottery has made significant contributions to the country's sports, public welfare and social economic developments.

China's sporting highlights of 2014

(China Daily USA 01/09/2015 page19)

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