BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
1. Chinese skater Lin eyeing 2026 Winter Olympics after shoulder surgery
While the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships kicked off in Beijing on March 14, China's Lin Xiaojun, who was absent due to shoulder surgery, told Xinhua that he is continuing to prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Lin injured his left shoulder during the ISU Short Track World Tour in November last year. He recovered to win the men's 500m gold at the Harbin Asian Winter Games last month, and then withdrew from the rest of the season to undergo surgery in South Korea.
2. China women's sabre team ends 14-year World Cup gold drought in Heraklion
China's women's sabre team clinched gold at the FIE World Cup in Heraklion, Greece on March 10, marking their first triumph in the event since 2011.
With a young squad featuring 26-year-old Fu Ying and three promising athletes born in the 2000s - Rao Xueyi, Zhang Xinyi, and Wei Jiayi - the Chinese team established an early lead in the final against France, before the match evolved into a nail-biting duel. Trailing one point entering the final bout, 20-year-old Rao staged a stunning comeback by scoring four consecutive points to seal a 45-42 victory.
3. Zheng Qinwen's Indian Wells run halted by Swiatek
China's Zheng Qinwen bowed out of Indian Wells with a 6-3, 6-3 quarterfinal loss to second-ranked Iga Swiatek of Poland on March 13.
World No. 9 Zheng struggled with unforced errors at key moments and converted just two of five break points as Swiatek prevailed in an hour and 35 minutes in a match that was interrupted by bad weather.
4. China's Shi, Li to lock horns at Badminton All England semifinals
China's Shi Yuqi and Li Shifeng will fight for a men's singles final berth at the All England Badminton Championships as both won in straight games in Birmingham on March 14.
The semifinal on Saturday will be a replay of the All England final in 2023 while Li was crowned in his first appearance in Birmingham.
5. Olympic champion Gong leads China's team for Nanjing Worlds
2020 Tokyo Olympic women's shot put champion Gong Lijiao is among 35 athletes selected to represent China at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing next week.
China's squad also includes Zhu Yaming, men's triple jump runner-up at Tokyo 2020, as well as rising pole vaulter Li Chenyang, who raised the men's national record to 5.85m last month.
The 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships will take place from March 21 to 23, featuring some 700 athletes from more than 150 countries and regions.■
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