CUTTING A LONG STORY SHORT

Paralympic power

Team China topped the final medal standings at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in September, with a total of 207 medals (96 gold, 60 silver and 51 bronze). It was the fifth straight time China has dominated the Games, since first topping the rankings in 2004 with 63 gold. Britain trailed in second place with 124 medals, followed by the United States and the Russian Paralympic Committee. China's delegation totaled 437, including coaches and support staff. Among the 251 Chinese para-athletes in Tokyo, 40 percent were first-time Paralympians. There were 132 women in the team, which featured athletes from a wide variety of backgrounds, including factory workers, college students, and farmers.

Soccer slump

In stark contrast to the spending spree of previous years, Chinese Super League clubs encountered major money problems in 2021. Eleven of the 16 CSL clubs are now facing financial issues due to a combination of factors－the impact of the pandemic, clubs' huge debts, and the postponement of the 2021 CSL season to accommodate Team China's World Cup qualifiers. Even CSL giant Guangzhou FC is struggling to stay afloat, with the club appointing first-team stalwart Zheng Zhi to the dual role of player-coach in a move widely viewed as a cost-cutting measure. Like many teams, Guangzhou FC is also facing a talent exodus, with the likes of Brazilian-born striker Luo Guofu (aka Aloisio) announcing his departure.

Master plan

The General Administration of Sport of China released the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for sports development in October. The plan, divided into three sections, focuses on continuing to build the nation into a sports powerhouse and promoting the high-quality development of key sports fields. The plan covers sectors including national fitness, youth sports, preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics and the development of ice and snow sports, defining the key tasks in each field. The plan was approved after more than two years of painstaking research and consultation with experts.

Serving hope

Marking the 50th anniversary of Ping-Pong Diplomacy, top paddlers from China and the United States paired up to compete at the mixed doubles competition at the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Houston, Texas, in November. Chinese star Lin Gaoyuan paired with Lily Zhang from the US, while American Kanak Jha played with Wang Manyu, who won team gold for China at the Tokyo Olympics. Lin and Zhang eventually won bronze at the championships. The linkups revived memories of the Ping-Pong Diplomacy of the 1970s, which paved the way for the reestablishment of China-US relations.

Heroes stumble

The early exit of the Chinese women's volleyball squad at the Tokyo Olympics was one of the most disappointing moments for Chinese sports fans this year. The defending champion crumbled to an unexpected ninth-place finish in Tokyo after losing its first three games. The shock capitulation led to the resignation of legendary head coach Lang Ping. Known as the "Iron Hammer" during her playing career, Lang took over the Chinese women's team for the second time in 2013, leading it to Olympic gold in Rio 2016, as well as World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019.

Medal rush

Team China's stars overcame the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to shine at the postponed Tokyo Olympics, staged from July 23 to Aug 8 in Japan. While the US topped the medal table with 39 gold, Team China finished second with 38 gold, 32 silver and 18 bronze. Before the final day, China led the standings for 11 consecutive days and was ahead of the US by two golds. China's two other Olympic squads, Team Chinese Taipei and Team Hong Kong also made breakthroughs at the Games, with the former collecting two gold, four silver and six bronze, and the latter claiming one gold, two silver and three bronze.

World Cup woe

Having struggled in World Cup qualifying, Team China now requires something of a minor miracle to reach this year's finals in Qatar and add to the country's solitary appearance in 2002. With four games left to play, Team China sits fifth in the six-team Group B of Asian zone qualifying, six points off a third-place playoff spot, the squad's last hope of advancing. China's lackluster performances also led to the resignation of head coach Li Tie. To make new head coach Li Xiaopeng's task even harder, many of the squad's naturalized players are unsure if they will make themselves available for selection in the remaining qualifiers.

Esports excellence

Chinese esports club EDward Gaming's victory at the League of Legends 2021 World Championship in Iceland was yet another example of China's fast-growing esports market. According to the 2021 Chinese Esports Development Report, published by Tencent Esports and Penguin Intelligence, the number of Chinese esports users has reached a staggering 425 million. Revenue from the market totaled $360 million in 2021, a 14 percent increase on the previous year, to make China the most profitable esports market in the world.

Smooth preparations

With the torch relit, venues being tested and operational drills underway, Beijing is all set to stage the much-anticipated 2022 Winter Games. The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will open on Feb 4, while the Paralympics will kick off on March 4 in three competition zones－downtown Beijing, its northwest Yanqing district and co-host city Zhangjiakou, Hebei province. Thirteen years after the 2008 Summer Games, the Olympic flame has returned to the Chinese capital as Beijing's preparations for this year's Winter Olympics enter the home stretch, with operational details, legacy and, most importantly, safety amid the pandemic prioritized. The Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is now confident of ensuring that the Games will be streamlined, safe and splendid.

Great Games

Over 12,000 athletes from across China, including 50 stars who topped the podium at the Tokyo Olympics, delivered world-class performances at the China's 14th National Games in September in Shaanxi province. In a testament to the quality of performances, 56 events improved on the results from the previous edition of the Games in 2017, and the results in 17 disciplines were better than Chinese athletes' corresponding results at the Tokyo Olympics. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers still provided all participants with the best possible living and competition environments. In terms of transportation, a total of 2,881 shuttle buses and other designated vehicles made over half a million trips to ensure the smooth operation of the Games. In addition, over 1,300 medical workers from 95 hospitals were stationed at venues, training bases, hotels, media centers and athlete villages.