Yesterday in Guangzhou, China's 15th National Games delivered a thrilling upset in the men's 800 metres and a testament to enduring excellence in the women's shot put.
In the 800m final, Guangxi's Liu Dezhu set the pace from the start, determined to defend his national record. But Zhejiang's Xi Xiaoheng conserved his energy early and unleashed a decisive sprint in the home straight. Xi crossed the line in 1:45.48, smashing the previous national record and clinching gold in spectacular fashion.
On the field, Olympic titleholder Gong Lijiao continued her reign in the women's shot put. The four-time champion signalled her intent with a second-round throw of 19.53 metres, taking an early lead. Hebei teammate Zhang Linru pushed to a personal best of 19.47 metres and Ma Yue reached 19.33 metres, but Gong had the final say. On her last attempt, she hurled the shot 19.68 metres to secure her fifth consecutive National Games crown.
These performances underline a generational shift and sustained dominance. Xi's tactical masterclass in the 800m highlights the emergence of new contenders in Chinese middle-distance running, while Gong's milestone confirms her status as one of the nation's greatest field athletes.
As the National Games conclude, fans across the country are already looking ahead to more records and rivalries in the years to come.
Reference(s):
Xi breaks 800m record, Gong captures fifth consecutive shot put title
cgtn.com
