Physical challenge awaits China Women in busy calendar, says captain Wang

23.02.2023 - 11:15 channelnewsasia.com

The China women's soccer team will be tested physically during a busy schedule, with the players due to participate in the Asian Games and Olympic qualifiers after the World Cup, captain Wang Shanshan said on Thursday.China, runners-up at the 1999 World Cup, are in Group D with England, Haiti and Denmark at this year's World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to Aug.

20.After the World Cup, China are due to take part in the Asian Games at home, scheduled for Sept. 23 to Oct. 8 in Hangzhou, and then the qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Games from Oct.

23 to 31. "This year's three major events are really very difficult for us," Wang told Xinhua news agency. "There may be more physical pressure."The three events are very close, so it is essential for us to build up our body conditions in the early stage.""I think everyone is in a highly positive state now, and our goal is very clear.

We are all working hard to prepare for the events," she added.China, nicknamed the Steel Roses, have played seven times in the World Cup finals, finishing fourth in the 1995 edition and reaching the last 16 in France in 2019.

Calendar France Denmark Spain Australia China New Zealand Haiti Hangzhou

Ding Junhui held his nerve superbly to secure a second Six Red World Championship with an 8-6 victory over home favourite Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in Bangkok. The Chinese sporting icon lifted the trophy in 2016 with a last-gasp 8-7 win over Stuart Bingham, but dominated the 14th frame before a vociferous home crown to avoid being forced to another final-frame decider.

Challenger Cup triumph evidence of progress in Saudi cricket

Victory in the 2023 Asian Cricket Council’s Challenger Cup in Thailand has catapulted Saudi Arabia’s men’s team into unchartered waters. It also emphasised the increasing levels of competition within Asian cricket.

Challenger Cup triumph evidence of progress in Saudi cricket

German Open: Lakshya Sen Makes First Round Exit; Indian Challenge Ends

Top Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen made a shock opening round exit from the German Open badminton tournament after a straight-game defeat to Christo Popov of France in the men's singles, in Mulheim on Wednesday. The world number 12 and sixth seeded Sen went down to world No 41 Popov 19-21 16-21 in a round of 32 clash, lasting 46 minutes. All the three other Indians also lost their respective round one matches to end the country's campaign in the BWF World Tour Super 300 event. Mithun Manjunath fought hard but lost his men's singles first round match to Singapore's fourth seeded Loh Kean Yew 8-21 21-19 11-21.

UN: Afghanistan is world’s most repressive country for women

ISLAMABAD: Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the country has become the most repressive in the world for women and girls, deprived of many of their basic rights, the United Nations said Wednesday. In a statement released on the International Women’s Day, the UN mission said that Afghanistan’s new rulers have shown an almost “singular focus on imposing rules that leave most women and girls effectively trapped in their homes.” Despite initial promises of a more moderate stance, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures since seizing power in August 2021 as US and NATO forces were in the final weeks of their pullout from Afghanistan after two decades of war.