BEIJING, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:
1. China launches joint National Games for Persons with Disabilities, Special Olympic Games in Greater Bay Area
A total of 7,824 athletes from 34 delegations competed for China's 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, with the main competition schedule beginning on Dec. 9 across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.
It is the first time the two events have been jointly hosted by the three regions of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Games feature 1,876 events across 46 sports, with competitions in six winter sports having already been completed. The program includes 131 events in 11 mass-participation sports and 599 events across nine Special Olympics sports.
2. China secures last men's curling spot at 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
China secured the last ticket in men's curling at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games after sliding past Japan 9-4 in the Olympic qualification event on December 11 in Kelowna, Canada.
China led the round-robin with a 6-1 record but fell short 9-4 to the United States in the first play-off game. Despite previous defeat to Japan in the round-robin, China took control in the second play-off game, thanks to a strong tactical performance and a key four-point score in the ninth end that forced Japan to concede.
This victory makes China the only Asian nation to be represented in both men's and women's curling teams in Milan-Cortina.
3. Gu Ailing wins women's halfpipe with last-run comeback at FIS Freeski World Cup
China's Olympic champion Gu Ailing claimed the women's halfpipe gold with a stunning last run at FIS Freeski World Cup in Chongli.
Competing in front of a cheering home crowd amid flying snowflakes, Gu posted a score of 85.25 points in her first run, initially sitting behind Britain's reigning world champion Zoe Atkin, who led with 90.25. While Atkin did not improve her score in the second run, Gu, skiing last, delivered a 91.75 run to seal the victory.
Her teammates Zhang Kexin and Li Fanghui finished fifth and ninth, respectively.
4. Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian announces retirement
China's star sprinter Su Bingtian, the men's 100m Asian record holder, announced his retirement from athletics on December 9.
He made history in 2021 as the first Chinese man to reach an Olympic 100m final after clocking an Asian record time of 9.83s in Tokyo, and helped China take bronze in the 4x100m relay.
Born in 1989, Su became the first Chinese man to break the 10-second barrier with a 9.99-second run at the Diamond League in Eugene, the United States in 2015. He matched the Asian record at 9.91s at the World Challenge in Madrid in 2018, before lowering it to 9.83s in the semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics, where he went on to finish sixth in the final.
5. Defending champion Zhejiang rolls past Shanxi in 2025-26 CBA season opener
Reigning champions the Zhejiang Lions beat the Shanxi Loongs 88-74 to kick off the 2025-26 season of Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) League on December 12.
The new season marked the 31st CBA campaign with a pivotal regulation change: matches will now be played in four 10-minute quarters, replacing the previous 12-minute format.
The 2025-26 season is defined by a distinct youth movement. Of the 339 registered domestic players, 197 were born after 2000, accounting for 58 percent of the league.
6. China wins third consecutive 2025 ITTF Mixed Team World Cup
China beat Japan 8-1 to claim its third consecutive ITTF Mixed Team World Cup title in Chengdu on Dec. 7.
In the best-of-15 final, Chinese pair Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha clinched an 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 victory over Sora Matsushima and Satsuki Odo in the mixed doubles. Wang Manyu then cruised past Miwa Harimoto 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 in the women's singles to help China extend the lead to 6-0.
China's Lin Shidong then rallied past Tomokazu Harimoto 6-11, 11-5, 11-6 in the men's singles to seal the team victory.
Wang and Sun continued their momentum at the WTT Finals, defeating Japan's Sora Matsushima and Miwa Harimoto 3-0 in the mixed doubles semifinals to secure a final berth on Dec. 13.■
