Anhui Athletes Achieve Historic Breakthroughs at the 15th National Games
Anhui province’s athletes delivered a stunning performance at the 15th National Games, securing a record-breaking haul of medals and achieving historic breakthroughs across a diverse range of sports. The Games, which concluded recently, saw athletes from across China compete for national glory, with Anhui emerging as a force to be reckoned with.
A Golden Harvest and Historic Firsts
The Anhui delegation returned home with an remarkable tally of 7 gold, 5 silver, and 12 bronze medals in competitive sports, alongside 3 gold, 6 silver, 8 bronze, 2 second prizes, and 3 third prizes in mass sports. This success represents a important leap forward for the province’s sporting ambitions.
One of the most celebrated victories came from the shooting team, where Yao Qianxun and hu Kai clinched gold in the 10-meter air pistol mixed team event, shattering both the national record and exceeding the world record. This achievement underscored the strength of Anhui’s shooting program. Hu Kai, alongside Zhang Hao and Liu Ziyang, also secured gold in the men’s 10-meter air pistol team competition.
In women’s tennis, Zhu Lin made history by winning the singles gold medal, the first for Anhui in the sport. Overcome with emotion, she declared, “This gold medal is the first gold medal in our Anhui tennis history. I hope there will be more young players to represent Anhui in the competition.” Her victory was a testament to years of dedication, having participated in the National Games five times.
Other notable gold medalists included Li Yujia in women’s youth team competition.
Beyond the Podium: Mass Participation and Community Spirit
The success extended beyond elite competition, with 235 athletes participating in mass sports events. These participants, ranging in age from 10 to 72, represented a diverse cross-section of Anhui society – from retired athletes and teachers to civil servants and fitness enthusiasts. The Anhui team’s gold medal win in the Group C goalball mixed futsal competition, featuring players from rural areas including Taihu County Mituo Primary school, underscored the integrated progress of quality education and physical education.
A spirit of Tenacity and breakthroughs
Throughout the Games, Anhui athletes demonstrated a remarkable spirit of perseverance and determination.In women’s 7-a-side rugby,players like Chen Can and ma Xuezhen played through injuries,embodying the unwavering commitment of the team. Ma Xuezhen famously stated,”Even though my leg is broken,if you want to pass me,you have to step on me.”
This spirit translated into breakthroughs across multiple disciplines. The women’s 4×400-meter relay team won a historic silver medal, and the 4×400-meter mixed relay team secured bronze.Shi linqi broke her personal best three times in the women’s 100-meter track and field event, bringing Anhui back to the 100-meter podium after 46 years. For the first time, Anhui athletes reached the finals in tennis, and the province successfully organized equestrian events, achieving a fourth-place finish in the men’s dressage team competition.
The 15th National Games concluded as a resounding success for Anhui,a testament to the dedication of its athletes,coaches,and supporters. The best inheritance of victory is to move towards new victories; the best tribute to records is to create new records. Anhui athletes will take the 15th National Games as a new starting point,retaliate and regroup to meet new challenges,gain more victories and create more brilliance.(Changmu Wan Ti Xuan)(Except for signatures, all pictures in this edition were taken by fan Bowen)
