China sets 2035 goal for men's basketball to qualify consistently for Olympics, unveils comprehensive reform plan
The General Administration of Sport of China (GASC) on Thursday released a circular on the measures for further promoting reform and development of basketball in the country, stressing that advancing basketball reform is essential to building China into a leading sporting nation and to addressing long-standing issues in the sector.
CFL unveils new regulatory rules including targeting 'dual contracts'
The Chinese Professional Football League (CFL), an independent federation aimed at operating all levels of China's professional football leagues, on Wednesday announced a series of new regulatory measures, covering club finances, league admission, ownership transfers and replacement procedures. Among the penalties, clubs found using so-called "yin-yang contracts," undeclared dual contracts to evade salary caps, will be relegated.
China's Olympic snowboarding champion Su Yiming has set his sights on the 2026 Winter Olympics after finishing at the top of the Big Air World Cup in Chongli over the weekend.
Following the Cunchao (Village Super League) in Southwest China's Guizhou Province and the Suchao (Jiangsu Football City League) in East China's Jiangsu Province, Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China will host the inaugural ice-and-snow sports super league (Bingchao), according to the Heilongjiang Provincial Sports Bureau.
Chinese national basketball team suffered their second straight defeat in the World Cup Asian qualifiers on Monday after being defeated by South Korea 90-76 on the away court. The result has raised concerns among fans over the quality of players.
The 2025 China U16 national football team's recent performance of scoring 42 goals but conceding zero in five Asian Cup qualifying matches has sparked fresh hopes that Chinese youth football may finally be catching fire. The winning record sealed the team's qualification for the 2026 U17 Asian Cup. The margin of victories, including scoring in double digits against some opponents, reveals a level of dominance rarely seen in recent Chinese youth sides.
The final stop of this season's ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Tour came to an end on Sunday night in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, with the Chinese team clinching the silver medal in both the men's 1,000 meters and men's 5,000-meter relay on the closing day. Team China finished the stop with two silvers and one bronze.
The 2025 Shanghai Marathon kicked off on Sunday morning at the Bund Bull in Shanghai, where 23,000 runners from around the world began their journey through the city's landmark streets at 7 am.
Despite China's loss to South Korea in Friday's World Cup Asian qualifier contest, point guard Liao Sanning emerged as a rare bright spot.
British football club Brighton apologized after a club social media post featuring Kaoru Mitoma and an academy player holding up an image of a Japanese WWII soldier. The post sparked anger and disappointment among fans in Asia, which suffered under Japanese atrocities during WWII.
The Chinese national basketball team kicked off its campaign for the 2027 FIBA World Cup with a home defeat of 80-76 in Beijing to arch-rivals South Korea on Friday.
The Chinese men's national team will begin their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers with clashes against arch-rivals South Korea on Friday night in Beijing and at an away game on Monday. Balancing proven veterans with rising talent, China is not only eyeing spots for the World Cup, but more importantly building depth for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
On Wednesday, Leonz Eder, president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), officially announced that Changchun in Northeast China's Jilin Province had successfully won the bid to host the 33rd Winter World University Games in 2027.
On the night of November 19, China's 15th National Games featured an exciting women's high jump showdown. Shao Yuqi, a standout from Central China's Hubei Province, cleared 1.90 meters with remarkable consistency to claim the gold medal.
The torch relay course for the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and Ninth National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) was unveiled on Monday. Over 20,000 volunteers are expected to serve the event.
Chinese rookie Yang Hansen recorded several personal milestones on Saturday night despite the Portland Trail Blazers' 95-122 blowout loss, marking what many Chinese fans called a "small highlight" in his young NBA career.
An emotional Wu Lei burst into tears at the Suoyuwan Stadium in Dalian on Saturday, as his club Shanghai Port won the Chinese Super League (CSL) title by collecting 66 points after completing 30 games. The star forward was beleaguered this season due to injury, playing only six games this season and making only one goal.
China's National Games has witnessed the emergence of many young talents across its 66-year history. Co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the 15th edition of the Games, which concludes on Friday night, demonstrated the potential of China's teenage athletes in the new Olympic cycle.
Amid the deafening cheers at the near-capacity Guangdong Olympic Center Stadium, China's star sprinter Su Bingtian ran the final race of his career on Thursday.
Veteran badminton pair Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong, affectionately known as "Yasi," culminated their playing career with a gold medal at the National Games on Thursday.
As the National Games enter the final stretch, eight gold medals were awarded in athletics on Tuesday, while top contenders faced off in the table tennis team events.
Boxers on the podium at China's 15th National Games were greeted by an unusual sight as humanoid robots helped present their awards.
The 15th National Games awarded 43 gold medals on Sunday, the highest single-day total of the competition. One of the most anticipated events took place at Macao's Galaxy Arena, where Olympic champion Fan Zhendong of Shanghai and Wang Manyu of Heilongjiang captured the men's and women's singles titles, respectively.
China's MMA star, former UFC strawweight world champion Zhang Weili fell short in her first attempt at the UFC flyweight world title, losing to reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko on Saturday.
The roars inside the aquatics venues of the ongoing National Games have been deafening, matching the intensity of the competitions in the water.
China's MMA star, former UFC strawweight world champion Zhang Weili fell short in her first attempt at the UFC flyweight world title, losing to reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko on Saturday.
Two goals from striker Baihelamu Abuduwaili helped the Chinese national under-22 football team secure a rare 2-0 win over South Korea at the Panda Cup friendly series.
In response to a question from a foreign journalist about Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal claiming that he was denied a visa by China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday that China issues visas for athletes from all countries, including India, in accordance with laws and regulations.
When the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), during the 15th National Games, expressed her anticipation for Wushu's official debut at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, it marked a symbolic moment of seeing the ancient martial art go from the national stage to the global spotlight.
For China's mixed martial artist Zhang Weili, remaining in her strawweight division in the UFC is far from satisfying, as the 36-year-old fighter has elevated herself to challenge the flyweight world champion.
As the National Games continue across South China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area - the first time the event has been jointly hosted by multiple regions - many Hong Kong athletes say the competition has offered them a renewed sense of connection with the Chinese mainland sports community.
At the ongoing 15th National Games, 90 percent of the competition sites across Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions have been adapted from existing facilities, a deliberate move toward sustainability and efficient urban management.
The battle among Chinese swimming aces is in full swing at the National Games as the eight-day swim-ming competitions kicked off on Monday at the Shenzhen Universiade Center.
With a gentle lift of the hands, a slow rise of the body and a steady bend of the knees, Taijiquan has been practiced for centuries by people of all ages and backgrounds. More than an exercise, it's a way of life - one that blends physical health with deep philosophical insight. Recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2020, Taijiquan has reached more than 180 countries and regions.
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced Wednesday that former China international Shao Jiayi will take over as the head coach of the China men's national football team, marking the first time in many years that the post goes to a domestic coach rather than a foreign hire.
Former China international Shao Jiayi has been officially named the head coach of the Chinese men's national football team, ending the vacancy of the position since June, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced on Wednesday.
Focusing on curbing phenomena such as using AI technology to produce and publish fake event videos, the Office of Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission (CAC) of China has launched a nationwide campaign to ensure a healthy online environment for the upcoming 15th National Games of China and the National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD).
Chinese veteran snooker star Ding Junhui aims to defend his title at the International Championship, he told media as the tournament kicked off on Sunday in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province.
The 2025 Beijing Marathon kicked off at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Sunday, drawing 32,000 participants.
Two Chengdu Rongcheng fans were arrested for misconduct during the team's Chinese Super League (CSL) match against Henan FC, the local police announced on Saturday night.
Portland Trail Blazers' rookie center Yang Hansen of China has been assigned to Blazers' G League affiliate the Rip City Remix, the team announced. Chinese analysts believe the move to be "understandable" and likely to boost his capabilities.
The Jiangsu City Football League, more often referred to as "Suchao," reached its finale on Saturday, with the Taizhou team defeating their Nantong counterparts 4-3 on penalty shootout.
With just 10 days to go before the curtain rises on the 15th National Games, the organizing committee on Thursday confirmed that the first full-dress rehearsal with audience participation took place on Wednesday at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center. Preparations for the opening ceremony have now entered the final sprint.
The torch relay for the 15th National Games of China is scheduled to start on Sunday, with four cities in the Greater Bay Area - Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao - hosting simultaneous relay events, officials announced at a news conference on Monday.
The past weekend suggests that the domestic football map in China is quietly shifting, and in some parts, significantly.
Chinese rookie center Yang Hansen recorded his first away points in the NBA on Sunday with the Portland Trail Blazers' match against the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring two points from free throws and collecting one rebound.
Chinese Super League (CSL) side Beijing Guoan came from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Tai Po of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the third round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League 2 on Thursday night in Hong Kong.
Chinese center Yang Hansen made his NBA regular-season debut on Wednesday night local time, contributing 2 points and 1 rebound for the Portland Trail Blazers against the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking another milestone in his career.
When Rob Stull, president of Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), or the International Modern Pentathlon Union, walked into Beijing's National Olympic Sports Center, memories of the 2008 Beijing Olympics came rushing back. The same venue, the same Olympic spirit, but now hosting a brand-new discipline ready to redefine modern pentathlon.
The second day of the 2025 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships on Tuesday saw Chinese women gymnasts take to the qualification rounds across multiple events, as the team aims to balance youthful vigor with seasoned experience in its new lineup. Zhang Qingying advanced to the women's all-around and balance beam finals, Deng Yalan qualified for the vault final, and Yang Fanyuwei secured a spot in the uneven bars final.
The World Winter Sports Expo 2025 opened at the Shougang Park in Beijing's Shijingshan district on Thursday. Marking its 10th edition, the expo focuses on promoting international exchanges and cooperation in ice and snow sports, tourism and culture.
Although the 15th National Games will officially open on November 9, several competitions have already begun, with the shooting range seeing two world records surpassed.
Chinese basketball player Zeng Fanbo has been waived by the Brooklyn Nets, the team officially announced on Wednesday night, sparking widespread discussion among fans and netizens over his brief 22-day NBA stint.
The Japanese national team overturning a two-goal deficit to beat five-time world champions Brazil 3-2 on Tuesday has sent football fans around the world in shock. And for many Chinese fans, that result has become a painful mirror: While Japan is sharpening its edge on the international stage, China's national team remains mired in uncertainty.
On Wednesday, the Trail Blazers faced the Warriors again in the NBA preseason. In his third career preseason game, Trail Blazers' Chinese basketballer Yang Hanshen went 4-of-11 from the field, recording 9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block with 4 fouls. His 6 rebounds marked a preseason career high, while his 4 fouls were a new preseason low.
For the 15th National Games, China's Hong Kong will send over 600 athletes to compete in 28 events, marking the largest delegation in the Special Administrative Region's history, John Lee, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), told reporters on Tuesday.
The Japanese national football team pulled off a stunning second-half comeback to beat five-time World Cup winners Brazil 3-2 at the Kirin Challenge Cup in Tokyo on Tuesday, claiming their first-ever victory over the South American powerhouse.
The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) announced on Monday that US basketball player Troy Akeem Gillenwater of Guangdong Southern Tigers has been suspended for three months after testing positive for a cannabinoid substance during in-competition testing.
The flag presentation ceremony for the Macao sports delegation participating in China's 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, along with the pledge-taking ceremony for Macao volunteers, was held on Saturday. Preparations for the Macao competition zone have now entered their final stage, with all venues scheduled for handovers within the coming week, after which the installation of competition facilities will begin.
The National Basketball Association (NBA), one of US' most successful sporting exports, is set to stage two preseason match-ups between the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets at the Venetian Hotel in China's Macao Special Administration Region on Friday and Sunday, which according to the AP report on Thursday will mark the first games played in China since 2019.
As the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays came to an end, Shenzhen has officially started gearing up for the 15th National Games competitive events beginning on October 14, according to a CNR News report on Wednesday.
World No. 1 Wang Chuqin and second-ranked Wang Manyu lifted the men's and women's singles trophies respectively on Sunday as China swept all five titles at the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash.
China's Wang Chuqin swept past Felix Lebrun of France 4-0 in the men's singles final at the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash on Sunday.
Wang Manyu won 4-2 against Sun Yingsha in an all-Chinese women's singles final at the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash on Sunday.
China's Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong notched a straight-game victory over compatriots Zhou Qihao and Chen Junsong in the men's doubles final at the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash on Saturday.
China's tennis ace Zheng Qinwen retired from her China Open match against Czech player Linda Noskova on Monday due to an elbow injury, but did not rule out continuing her participation in the China swing.
Italian tennis player and current world No.9 Lorenzo Musetti signed a "Sorry" on the camera after his match on Sunday, for the second time expressing his apology following his inappropriate remarks earlier that simmered among Chinese audiences.
On Saturday, Italian tennis player Lorenzo Musetti, who is currently participating in the 2025 China Open, issued an apology on his overseas social media account for his behavior that was suspected of insulting Chinese spectators. Musetti said his words were only directed at a few people in the crowd who repeatedly coughed and disrupted the match. Earlier, a video showing Musetti being affected by coughing from the stands, imitating coughing, and insulting Chinese people in Italian after making a mistake during the match, sparked controversy on social media both in China and abroad.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced Saturday that it has lifted the partial suspension of Russia and Belarus, following a decision at its General Assembly in Seoul, South Korea.
European football's governing body UEFA, which organizes the FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, could meet to decide whether to suspend Israel as early as next week, multiple media reported Thursday.
China's domestic tennis hopes received a lively start on Thursday at the China Open, as several domestic players took to the court with wins.
China's tennis Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen says her recovery is progressing well after elbow surgery, as she prepares to return to competition at home at the China Open.
Chinese male tennis players face uphill battles at the China Open, as three Chinese athletes Zhang Zhizhen, Shang Juncheng and Bu Yunchaokete go into the ATP 500 event as wildcard players.
The Chinese athletics team concluded their World Athletics Championships with two silver and two bronze medals as well as a new national record. This modest medal haul, though not yet at the top tier globally, carries encouraging signs, especially for talent cultivation and a competitive mindset.
The women's singles draw for the 2025 China Open was held on Monday, with tournament organizers announcing that China's tennis ace Zheng Qinwen is among the entrants. The tournament will mark Zheng's first appearance since undergoing elbow surgery after Wimbledon earlier this year.
China's figure skating team clinched a full set of Olympic berths for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games after a dramatic weekend of ISU Skate to Milano Olympic figure skating qualifier events in Beijing, earning spots in all four disciplines and thereby securing entry to the team competition.
Chinese skaters are set to vie for spots for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the ISU (International Skating Union) Skate To Milano Figure Skating Qualifier to be held in Beijing from Friday to Sunday.
China's tennis ace Zheng Qinwen is set to play at the WTA 500 Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan, which will be held from October 20 to 26, according to announcements made by the tournament organizers. Meanwhile, the 2025 China Open announced its doubles field, which will feature several Grand Slam champions alongside top Chinese players.
At the Women's Hockey Asia Cup final on Sunday evening, China rallied from an early deficit to defeat India 4-1, reclaiming the continental title after 16 years and securing direct qualification for the 2026 Women's FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.
The 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo entered its second day on Sunday, with several Chinese athletes taking to the track and field in highly anticipated events, including the women's 100-meter hurdles and women's discus throw.
Just a decade ago, mixed martial arts (MMA) in China was little more than online highlight clips shared among niche fans. Today, packed arenas and roaring crowds mark its transformation into a popular sport, a shift that MMA enthusiast Wang Yizhou felt firsthand when he attended the UFC's Shanghai event.
The WTT Champions Macao 2025 kicked off its opening round on Tuesday. Defending champion Lin Shidong of China defeated Chinese Taipei's Kao Cheng-Jui 3:0 to advance to the round of 16. On the same day, China's Wang Chuqin defeated Japan's 18-year-old rising star Sora Matsushima 3-1.
At the recent Street Fighter 6 finals of the Esports World Cup (EWC), 36-year-old Chinese player Zeng Zhuojun, or more widely known as Xiaohai, made headlines by reversing a deficit to defeat Chilean player Derek Blaz, becoming the first competitor in EWC history to successfully defend a World Cup title.
The Chinese track and field athletes took part in the Continental Tour events in Beijing on Sunday, treating them as a chance to hone their skills in the buildup to the World Championships.
For tennis enthusiast Li Wei, playing tennis on a weekly basis has become a habit after seeing Chinese player Zheng Qinwen winning the Paris 2024 Olympic women's singles.
Chinese Football Association (CFA) decided to openly recruit the head coach of the national men's football team, according to a notice issued by CFA on Friday.
Preparations for the 15th National Games of China, the first to be hosted in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, have entered a decisive phase as several competitions will begin in September ahead of the official opening, while large-scale rehearsals for the opening ceremony are underway inside the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center, an official from the Guangdong competition zone told Global Times on Tuesday.
If you have followed Chinese men's singles badminton over the past decade, the Paris Olympics semifinals may have left you in despair. Shi Yuqi, despite often entering as the top seed, seemed trapped by a cruel fate - unable to capture a title at the sport's "Big Three" tournaments.
Beijing Guoan Football Club issued a public apology early Monday after a heavy defeat to Shandong Taishan in the Chinese Super League (CSL), vowing that its determination to compete for the title "will never change."
Chinese table tennis star Fan Zhendong made his long-anticipated debut in the German table tennis league, Tischtennis-Bundesliga (TTBL), representing Saarbrucken at home against Konigshofen.
On Sunday, 37-year-old Jeremy Lin announced his retirement on social media, bringing an end to his 15-year professional basketball career. “This is a ride I never wanted to end, but I know it's time,” he said. “I will forever miss playing basketball in front of you all, but our time will go beyond just playing.”
After Kazakh football club FC Kairat qualified for the European Champions League (ECL) group stage, Chinese fans discussed the chance of visiting Almaty to watch the ECL teams.
The 2025 China Open unveiled a star-studded field on Wednesday as the lineup brings together 14 Grand Slam singles champions, among them five players who have held world No.1 rankings.
The Chinese under-18 national football team finished their China-Japan-Korea Junior Sports Exchange Meet in second place after suffering a 2-1 defeat to their South Korean counterparts.
China's table tennis Olympic champion Fan Zhendong will play in three competitions representing his German club Saarbrucken in the new season, according to a press conference held by the club on Wednesday.
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has unveiled provisional measures on the management of discipline and conduct in regional football competitions, a comprehensive set of regulations aimed at bringing grassroots football events under stricter and more systematic governance.
China's volleyball squads experienced a roller-coaster on Monday, with the women's national team booking a spot in the round of 16 at the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship after defeating Colombia 25-16, 23-25, 25-14, 25-16, while the U21 men's side fell 1-3 to the US team to record their first loss of the tournament, having already secured a spot in the round of 16 by relying on the first three straight wins.
Ticket sales for the WTT China Smash 2025 are set to start on September 5 and the event will join forces with the China Open tennis tournament to create a week of sporting events in Beijing, said officials at a 30-day countdown press conference for China Smash on Monday.
Over the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, 5,000 drones lit up Chongqing's night sky, tracing Stephen Curry's iconic jump shot and "night-night" gesture, a spectacle that the basketball star called "the wildest thing" he had ever seen.
After more than half a year since signing with the UFC, 30-year-old traditional Chinese medicine physician Shi Ming is finally ready to make her professional mixed martial arts debut in the UFC.
China will launch a sweeping crackdown on irregularities in football, Chinese chess, and other sports thanks to the ongoing campaign against match-fixing, gambling, and corruption, Gao Zhidan, head of the General Administration of Sport of China, said at a State Council Information Office press conference on Tuesday.
Stepping outside the venues of the World Games 2025 Chengdu, I was drawn to the city's atmosphere. The excitement of the Games seemed to spill into every corner of the city. Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, has become a popular summer travel destination, with the vitality outside the arenas just as impressive as the competitions themselves.