The 26th Asian Athletics Championships, held in Gumi, South Korea from May 27 to 31, saw three undergraduates from Central China Normal University (CCNU) shine on the international stage, securing two gold medals and one silver medal for Team China—the best ever result by CCNU athletes at the tournament.
Wu Hongjiao, a student from the School of Physical Education, made history in the women's 800m final, overtaking Japan's top favorite Rin Kubo in the final sprint to claim the title in a new championship record (time unspecified), contributing China's 18th gold of the championships. She later added a silver medal in the mixed 4×400m relay alongside teammates.
Nineteen-year-old Li Yi stunned in the women's triple jump on the first competition, leaping 13.80 meters in her final attempt to reverse an Uzbekistani athlete's lead and secure gold. This marked China's first title in the event at the Asian Championships in a decade.
Liu Dezhu, competing in the men's 1500m, clocked 3:45.88 for sixth place. Notably, he made history at the previous Asian Championships by winning bronze—the first medal for China in the event in 23 years.
With a long-standing commitment to cultivating high-level sports teams, CCNU has leveraged competitive athletics to nurture top-tier talent. The university's focus on "practical disciplines" has yielded remarkable results, with athletes in track and field, badminton, swimming, and other sports repeatedly claiming world, Asian, and national championships, bringing honor to both the nation and the university.
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