September 20, 08:19CGTN

Alex Hua Tian aims for medal at 2026 Asian Games ahead of Los Angeles 2028

The Chinese equestrian jockey Alex Hua Tian is striving to win additional medals at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Aichi. Defending his championship title, he views the continental tournament as another step toward participating in the fifth Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

After arriving in Japan, Hua Tian told CGTN Sports Scene representative Shen Xiang that preparations went smoothly. His horse Mandjushri handled the trip to Tokyo well after a ten-day quarantine in Aachen, Germany.

"Overall, everything is quite good at the moment," Hua Tian stated. "The team's horses traveled very well."

He previously achieved significant success at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where he won a gold medal in individual equestrian sports and helped China secure the team title, earning the country its first gold medals in equestrian sports.

Despite this success, Hua Tian noted that his approach to competitions remains unchanged. He emphasized that his main goal is to win a medal, and the final placement will depend on the course of the day.

The Chinese jockey will compete with nine-year-old Mandjushri, whom he has been working with for about four years. This pair won the CCI3*-S competition in the UK in July, and Hua Tian himself placed 12th at the FEI World Equestrian Championships in Aachen in August.

Although the 2026 Asian Games do not offer direct qualification for Los Angeles 2028, Hua Tian believes participation will give Mandjushri valuable experience. He added that the horse is part of his team in preparation for the Los Angeles Olympics, as the opportunity to travel, get used to, and adapt to competitions in different places and under various circumstances is huge experience for her.

Hua Tian, who debuted at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 at the age of 18, is also convinced that experience remains one of the most important assets in equestrian sports. He joked that he still feels like that eighteen-year-old boy at the Beijing Olympics, noting that equestrian disciplines, including show jumping, do not forgive age, and experience plays a decisive role.

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cgtn.comSeptember 19, 16:47

XXI Asian Games open in Japan; Chinese team ready for competition

The XXI Asian Games officially kicked off in Japan on Saturday. These games, running from September 19 to October 4, feature 43 sports and bring together over 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions.

A More Optimized Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony, held at the Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, lasted about two hours. In line with the 'Socially Useful Games' concept, this year's ceremony emphasized sustainable and low-carbon practices. Performances, stage decorations, and props were simplified, while greater attention was paid to emotional expression.

Delegations entered the stadium in alphabetical order according to the Japanese syllabary. Organizers allocated more time to the parade of athletes, allowing representatives from different countries and regions to have a more prominent place in the ceremony.

China's Team Ready to Shine

China sent 815 athletes to participate in 38 sports and 369 disciplines. The team is relatively young: 27% of its athletes were born in 2005 or later. According to the Chinese Olympic Committee, 548 of them are debuting at the Asian Games, while 306 have previously competed in the Olympics or Asian Games.

During the opening ceremony, basketball player Hu Mingshuang and boxer Wu Yu served as flag bearers. Wu Yu competes in the women's 50 kg category and won a gold medal at the 2023 World Boxing Championships, as well as at the Asian Games in Hangzhou that same year. Hu helped the Chinese men's basketball team win bronze in Hangzhou and will lead the team at the current Asian Games.

New Sports and Asian Favorites This Year

The Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya present a blend of traditional Olympic disciplines and sports with strong Asian roots. Alongside major Olympic events such as athletics, swimming, badminton, and boxing, Asian favorites like Kabaddi, Sepak Takraw, Wushu, Kurash, and Jiu-Jitsu are included.

Several new sports and disciplines are also debuting this year. Padle and Tekball were added to the program in March, increasing the total number of sports from 41 to 43. Surfing is also making its debut at the Asian Games, including shortboard competitions for men and women.

The list of newcomers also includes BMX Freestyle—a cycling discipline where athletes perform a series of tricks and jumps on specially designed tracks—and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Virtual Taekwondo, with one mixed individual discipline, is added to the program for the first time. Meanwhile, wrestling and esports, which officially debuted at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023, will return to the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

cgtn.comSeptember 15, 07:49

Wang Shuang helped China secure a 5-1 victory in the opening match of the Asian Games in Haiti-Nagoa

China began its women's football tournament at the Asian Games in Haiti-Nagoa by securing a convincing 5-1 victory over the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday. Wang Shuang played a key role in this victory, scoring two goals and providing two assists.

In the first half of the match, China dominated and took the lead within 14 minutes. Former winger for PSG and Tottenham, Wang Shuang helped create space for Chen Qiaozhu, who converted a long-range shot. However, HKSAR managed to respond in the 31st minute, capitalizing on a defensive error to equalize the score.

China regained the advantage seven minutes after the opponent's goal: Si Yu scored with a header from a Zhang Rui corner, allowing the team to finish the first half with a score of 2-1.

In the second half, China completely controlled the game, which ultimately cemented the result. The substitution of Wang Yanwen immediately influenced the course of the game. Three minutes after entering the field, she received a pass from Wang Shuang in midfield and finished the attack, increasing the lead to 3-1.

Subsequently, Wang Shuang herself scored a goal. In the 79th minute, she scored after receiving the ball at a sharp angle, although the ball slightly deviated while entering the net. In the 89th minute, the veteran added a second goal while China was attacking near the opponent's penalty area.

The 31-year-old athlete concluded the match having been directly involved in four of the team's five goals. After the game, she emphasized that the result was more important to her than her personal contribution, noting the team's patience as an important quality.

China is participating in Group G alongside HKSAR, Uzbekistan, and the Philippines. The Philippines and Uzbekistan drew their first match 1-1, resulting in China becoming the only team in the group to earn three points in the first round of matches.

The tournament features 12 teams divided into three groups. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarter-finals.

China's next match is scheduled against Uzbekistan on Thursday, after which the team will conclude the group stage with matches against the Philippines on September 21.