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Major Chinese sports stories in 2008
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-29 11:49
Following are the major Chinese sporting stories in 2008 selected by Xinhua News Agency:

January: Northeastern province Helongjiang hosted the 11th National Winter Games as Harbin topped the gold medal table.

January - December: China pushed the nationwide fitness program in the Olympic year.

March: The 2008 Olympics torch relay was run from March 24 until August 8. The longest relay in the Olympic history also included an ascent with the flame to the top of Mt. Qomolangma.

May: The Chinese women's badminton team won their fifth consecutive Uber Cup and their men's counterparts took their third straight Thomas Cup.

August - September: China hosted an "exceptional" Summer Olympic Games and then delivered "the best ever" Paralympic Games.

August: Defending 110m hurdles champion Liu Xiang surprisingly pulled out of the first round heat at the Beijing Olympics because of a tendon injury.

August: China swept 100 medals, including 51 gold, to top the Olympic gold medal tally for the first time.

August: Chinese soccer suffered multiple blows to its head as its men's team lost all three games in the 2008 Olympics, in which the Chinese women's side was beaten in the quarterfinals. The senior team was shut out of the top 10 Asian candidates for World Cup tickets with its under-19 and under 16 national teams faring poorly in the Asian championships.

October: Beijing hosted the 1st World Mind Sports Games featuring bridge, chess, draughts, go chess and xiangqi (Chinese chess).

October: The 6th Chinese Farmers' Games was held in Quanzhou, Fujian Province.