A runner who was assaulted twice by other competitors during a race in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province not only was able to fight them off, but still managed to place second.   

Zhang Baoqiang was dealt two flagrant fouls during the first and second lap of the city's 2014 National 10-kilometer Run Tour on Sunday.

The first saw a runner who, after attempting to trip Zhang, dragged him out of the race, pushed him down and began beating him.

Zhang, from Lanzhou, Gansu Province, continued the race after a security guard intervened, only to be accosted again during the second lap.

"He brought another guy with him and they punched me together. They even tore off my number," he said.

"I would have won if that didn't happen," added Zhang.

The assailant has yet to be identified.

According to a tournament official, the ruffian runner was among the 3,000 participating in a half race that did not require registration. Numbers had been assigned randomly. 

Organizers awarded Zhang 10,000 yuan ($1,600) for his athletic performance, and another 1,000 yuan for medical compensation. 

Though Zhang has not filed a police report, family members in attendance decided to stay in Xi'an in order to "find the guy responsible" when Zhang has returned home.

Tencent Sports