In a thrilling showdown at the track and field competitions of China's 15th National Games in Guangzhou on Sunday, two stars shone bright. First up was the men's 800m final, where Zhejiang's Xi Xiaoheng delivered a masterclass in timing and speed. With defending record-holder Liu Dezhu of Guangxi setting a fast pace from the gun, many expected Liu to dominate the race. But Xi had a surprise up his sleeve.
After hanging close for the first lap, Xi unleashed a powerful kick on the home straight, charging past Liu to cross the line in 1:45.48—a new national record! 🎉 Liu still took silver with a tough 1:45.60, while Guangdong's Sun Jiahao grabbed bronze in 1:46.10.
The excitement didn’t stop there. In the women's shot put, Olympic champion Gong Lijiao returned for her fifth National Games appearance and fifth consecutive title. Gong set the tone early with a 19.53m opener, then sealed her dominance with a final throw of 19.68m. Hebei's Zhang Linru threw a personal best 19.47m to finish second, and Ma Yue took bronze with 19.33m.
These performances highlight the rising level of competition at the National Games and hint at an exciting track and field season ahead. ⚡️Stay tuned for more record-breaking moments!
Reference(s):
Xi breaks 800m record, Gong captures fifth consecutive shot put title
cgtn.com
