BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- As the sporting year draws to a close, here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the top 10 Chinese sports personalities of 2020:
1. Zhang Weili (female, mixed martial arts)
30-year-old Zhang, China's first-ever UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) world champion, retained her strawweight title with a split decision victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the United States on March 7.
Undated file photo shows Zhang Weili, China's first-ever UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) world champion. 30-year-old Zhang retained her strawweight title with a split decision victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the United States on March 7. (Xinhua)
Undated file photo shows Zhang Weili, China's first-ever UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) world champion. 30-year-old Zhang retained her strawweight title with a split decision victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the United States on March 7. (Xinhua)
Undated file photo shows Zhang Weili, China's first-ever UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) world champion, training at a gym. 30-year-old Zhang retained her strawweight title with a split decision victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the United States on March 7. (Xinhua)
2. Gu Ailing (female, freestyle skiing)
In January, 17-year-old Gu took two golds in the women's Freeski halfpipe and big air events at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland. The following month, Gu topped the podium twice in the women's halfpipe and slopestyle event in FIS Freeski World Cup in Calgary, becoming the first freestyle skier to win back-to-back titles in one World Cup competition.
Gu Ailing of China poses during the awarding ceremony after the women's freeski big air final of Freestyle Skiing event at the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games in Leysin, Switzerland, Jan. 22, 2020. In January, 17-year-old Gu took two golds in the women's Freeski halfpipe and big air events at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland. The following month, Gu topped the podium twice in the women's halfpipe and slopestyle event in FIS Freeski World Cup in Calgary, becoming the first freestyle skier to win back-to-back titles in one World Cup competition. (Xinhua/Lu Yang)
Gu Ailing of China competes during the women's freeski big air final of Freestyle Skiing event at the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games in Leysin, Switzerland, Jan. 22, 2020. In January, 17-year-old Gu took two golds in the women's Freeski halfpipe and big air events at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland. The following month, Gu topped the podium twice in the women's halfpipe and slopestyle event in FIS Freeski World Cup in Calgary, becoming the first freestyle skier to win back-to-back titles in one World Cup competition. (Xinhua/Lu Yang)
3. China's women's basketball team
On February 8, China edged Spain 64-62 in the FIBA women's Olympic qualifying tournament in Belgrade, Serbia, securing a berth at the Tokyo Olympic Games with three consecutive wins.
Team China celebrate after winning the group B match between China and Spain at the Women's Olympic qualifying basketball tournament in Belgrade, Serbia, on Feb. 8, 2020. China won the match 64-62 and qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. On February 8, China edged Spain 64-62 in the FIBA women's Olympic qualifying tournament in Belgrade, Serbia, securing a berth at the Tokyo Olympic Games with three consecutive wins. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua)
4. Ju Wenjun (female, chess)
29-year-old Chinese chess grandmaster Ju defended her title at the 2020 women's World Championship in Vladivostok, Russia, defeating 21-year-old challenger Aleksandra Goryachkina 8.5-7.5 on January 24.
Ju Wenjun of China poses during the awarding ceremony after the 2020 FIDE Women's World Chess Championship Match against Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russiain Vladivostok, Russia, Jan. 24, 2020. 29-year-old Chinese chess grandmaster Ju defended her title at the 2020 women's World Championship in Vladivostok, Russia, defeating 21-year-old challenger Aleksandra Goryachkina 8.5-7.5 on January 24. (Photo by Etery Kublashvili/Xinhua)
5. Sui Wenjing/Han Cong (female/male, figure skating)
China's Olympic silver medalists Sui and Han won their sixth ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships pairs gold medal in Seoul, South Korea, on February 8.
Gold medalists China's Sui Wenjing (L) and Han Cong react during the awarding ceremony for the Pairs Figure Skating event at the 2020 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Seoul, South Korea, Feb. 8, 2020. China's Olympic silver medalists Sui and Han won their sixth ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships pairs gold medal in Seoul, South Korea, on February 8. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)
China's Sui Wenjing (Top) and Han Cong perform during the pairs' free skating competition of 2019 ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on March 21, 2019. China's Olympic silver medalists Sui and Han won their sixth ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships pairs gold medal in Seoul, South Korea, on February 8. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
6. Ke Jie (male, Go chess)
In November, 23-year-old Ke became the youngest Chinese Go player to win eight world championship titles. It was also his fourth title at the Samsung World Go Masters. Days later, he made the final of the LG Cup for the first time.
Ke Jie of China poses during the awarding ceremony after the 2020 Samsung World Go Masters finals in Beijing, China, Nov. 3, 2020. In November, 23-year-old Ke became the youngest Chinese Go player to win eight world championship titles. It was also his fourth title at the Samsung World Go Masters. Days later, he made the final of the LG Cup for the first time. (Photo by Yang Shuo/Xinhua)
7. Chinese Mountaineering Team
The Chinese Mountaineering team reached the summit of Mt. Qomolangma in May, with their 150-minute stay the longest in Chinese history.
Chinese surveyors pose for a group photo atop Mount Qomolangma on May 27, 2020. The Chinese Mountaineering team reached the summit of Mt. Qomolangma in May, with their 150-minute stay the longest in Chinese history. (Xinhua/Tashi Tsering)
8. Liu Guoliang (male, table tennis)
China's 44-year-old table tennis chief Liu was named chair of the newly-formed World Table Tennis Council on June 29, with ambitions of making table tennis one of the world's leading sports. In November, the ITTF women's World Cup opened in Weihai City on China's east coast, signaling the return of international table tennis tournaments amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
File photo taken on June 2, 2019 shows President of the Chinese Table Tennis Association Liu Guoliang waving to spectators during the awarding ceremony after the men's singles final at ITTF World Tour Platinum China Open in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. China's 44-year-old table tennis chief Liu was named chair of the newly-formed World Table Tennis Council on June 29, with ambitions of making table tennis one of the world's leading sports. In November, the ITTF women's World Cup opened in Weihai City on China's east coast, signaling the return of international table tennis tournaments amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
9. Xu Jiayu/Yan Zibei/Zhang Yufei/Yang Junxuan (swimming)
The Chinese quartet broke the world record in the mixed 4x100m medley relay with a time of three minutes 38.41 seconds at the Chinese national swimming championships on October 1, beating the previous record by 0.15 seconds.
Xu Jiayu (back L), Yan Zibei (back R), Zhang Yufei (front L), Yang Junxuan pose for photos during the awarding ceremony of the mixed 4X100m medley relay final at the 2020 Chinese National Swimming Championships in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 2, 2020. The Chinese quartet broke the world record in the mixed 4x100m medley relay with a time of three minutes 38.41 seconds at the Chinese national swimming championships on October 1, beating the previous record by 0.15 seconds. (Xinhua/Tao Xiyi)
Xu Jiayu, Yan Zibei, Zhang Yufei, Yang Junxuan (From L to R) pose for photos after the mixed 4X100m medley relay final at the 2020 Chinese National Swimming Championships in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 2, 2020. The Chinese quartet broke the world record in the mixed 4x100m medley relay with a time of three minutes 38.41 seconds at the Chinese national swimming championships on October 1, beating the previous record by 0.15 seconds. (Xinhua/Tao Xiyi)
Xu Jiayu, Yan Zibei, Zhang Yufei, Yang Junxuan (from L to R) take a selfie during the awarding ceremony of the mixed 4X100m medley relay final at the 2020 Chinese National Swimming Championships in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 2, 2020. The Chinese quartet broke the world record in the mixed 4x100m medley relay with a time of three minutes 38.41 seconds at the Chinese national swimming championships on October 1, beating the previous record by 0.15 seconds. (Xinhua/Tao Xiyi)
10. Chen Meng (female, table tennis)
World No. 1 Chen, 26, beat her compatriot Sun Yingsha 4-1 to win her first ITTF women's World Cup in November. Two weeks later, she became the first player ever to win four ITTF Finals titles in a row.
Chen Meng (R) of China celebrates her victory after the women's singles final against her compatriot Wang Manyu at 2020 ITTF finals in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Nov. 22, 2020. World No. 1 Chen, 26, beat her compatriot Sun Yingsha 4-1 to win her first ITTF women's World Cup in November. Two weeks later, she became the first player ever to win four ITTF Finals titles in a row. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Gold medalist Chen Meng of China poses during the awarding ceremony for the women's singles competition at the 2020 ITTF women's world cup in Weihai, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 10, 2020. Chen Meng claimed the title of the event after beating another Chinese player Sun Yingsha by 4-1. World No. 1 Chen, 26, beat her compatriot Sun Yingsha 4-1 to win her first ITTF women's World Cup in November. Two weeks later, she became the first player ever to win four ITTF Finals titles in a row. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)
