China secured seven gold medals, ten silver, and ten bronze alongside three Olympic quota spots at the Asian Games in Nagoya on October 2, while the refugee team and virtual sports made their respective debuts at the regional multisport event. Xinhua reported the results following a packed day of competition featuring 51 gold medals.
Wang Xiyu Secures Los Angeles Quota in Tennis Final
Tennis singles champions at the Nagoya Asian Games earn direct qualification paths for the Los Angeles Olympics, provided they meet standard eligibility criteria. In the women’s singles final, 25-year-old Wang Xiyu defeated 37-year-old veteran Zhang Shuai in an all-Chinese showdown to capture the gold medal and the Olympic berth. In the men’s singles bracket, Wu Yibing advanced to the final stages by defeating his Japanese opponent in the semifinals, keeping his Olympic qualification campaign alive.
“I want to hug my mom and dad,” Wang Xiyu told reporters after celebrating her victory on the court.
China Wins Archery Mixed Team and Judo Gold
Young recurve archers Li Mengqi and Zhu Jingyi overcame opponents from South Korea and India to claim China’s recurve mixed team archery gold medal at the Games. The victory also earned China individual men’s and women’s quota places for the Los Angeles Olympics. In the judo and taekwondo arenas, Niu Xinran secured gold in the women’s 78kg-plus division by reversing South Korean competitor Lee Hyun-ji with an ippon throw, while Ma Jingyue triumphed in the women’s 49kg taekwondo final.
Field Hockey Defeat and Boxing Defenses
China experienced notable setbacks alongside its victories. The Chinese women’s field hockey team lost 0-1 to India, missing a successful title defense and allowing India to claim its first Asian Games gold medal in 44 years along with an automatic Olympic berth. In women’s football, China dropped the bronze medal match 0-1 to South Korea to finish fourth, while the Chinese men’s volleyball team fell to Japan in a five-set semifinal battle. Meanwhile, Wu Yu defended her title in the women’s 51kg boxing division, noting that the gold medal served as a gift to her parents.
“This Asian Games gold medal is the best gift for my parents,” Wu Yu said.
Refugee Athletes Debut in Taekwondo Tournament
The taekwondo competition marked a milestone as two members of the refugee team, Hassan and Jassim, made their official tournament debuts. Although both competitors exited the tournament in the early rounds, 18-year-old Hassan reflected on the broader personal significance of the appearance. “Participating in the Asian Games changed my life and gave me dreams,” Hassan said. “You can say I lost the match, but in my heart, this is the beginning of success.” Simultaneously, the newly introduced virtual taekwondo competition completed its run. Sixteen competitors participated across open weight and gender classes using VR headsets and motion-capture sensors for non-contact sparring. Philippines male athlete Yape defeated Vietnam’s Chau Ngoc Tuyet San in the final to claim the virtual title.
Tournament Operations and Doping Sanctions
Organizers faced logistical challenges as electronic sports matches suffered delays due to technical faults, and a traffic delay kept the Chinese women’s field hockey team’s transport stalled for two hours prior to their final fixture. The International Testing Agency also announced that Kazakh track and field athlete Bolatbekkyzy and Tajik tennis player Sharifov were provisionally suspended following positive doping tests, bringing the total number of doping violations at the Nagoya Asian Games to six. The Chinese delegation has harvested 162 golds, 81 silvers, and 73 bronzes ahead of the 47 gold medals contested on October 3.
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