Beijing, China, January 3, 2024: China’s Asian Games MVPs Qin Haiyang and Zhang Yufei have been included in the most memorable moments of 2023 by Xinhua News Agency.
Qin won all three breaststroke gold medals (50m, 100m, 200m) at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, and added a fourth gold in the mixed 4x100m medley relay.
He continued his scintillating form at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou and won five gold and one silver medal to be named Male MVP.
Zhang, China’s “Madam Butterfly”, won six gold medals at Hangzhou and was named Female MVP.
“China's Qin Haiyang was the toast of world swimming in July after breaking the men's 200m breaststroke world record to complete a hat-trick of individual gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships,” Xinhua wrote.
“Qin also claimed the 50m and 100m titles in Fukuoka, becoming the first swimmer to win all three breaststroke events in a single edition of the championships.”
Under the headline of “Asian Games demonstrates respect and friendship”, Xinhua highlighted the moment when Zhang embraced Japan’s Rikako Ikee, who had been diagnosed with leukemia just four months after being named MVP of the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018.
“One of the enduring sports memories of 2023 will be the sight of China's Zhang Yufei sharing a tearful embrace with her Japanese rival Rikako Ikee at the Asian Games in Hangzhou,” Xinhua said.
“Zhang had just won her sixth swimming gold medal of the Games by powering to victory in the 50m butterfly final ahead of Yu Yiting and Ikee.
“But the bronze medal was a triumph in itself for Ikee. It marked her first appearance on an international podium since she was diagnosed with leukemia in February 2019.”
Xinhua’s other memorable moments of 2023 included Manchester City winning the UEFA Champions League for the first time to complete the treble, Australian winning the cricket World Cup for the sixth time and South Africa winning the Rugby World Cup for the fourth time.
