China

Top 10 stories of China sports in 2009

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-31 09:35

(3)Diving: Falling angel

China's diving diva, Guo Jingjing, consolidated her status as the most successful woman in the sport's history by claiming two titles at the World Swimming Championships in Rome.

She won the double on the 3m springboard in the individual and synchronized events. It was the fifth straight time she had accomplished the feat at the Worlds and took her world title tally to 10.

Her Rome deeds added another chapter to a glorious career. At the Beijing Games, Guo claimed her third and fourth gold medals, making her the most decorated diver, along with Fu Mingxia, in Olympic history.

Guo has surpassed Fu in terms of records at major international tournaments. She is likely to compete at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where one more gold would be enough to make her the undisputed No 1 diver of all time.

(4)Basketball: Shanghai surprise

China's NBA All-star Yao Ming has a new title in his hometown of Shanghai - Boss Yao.

After buying the Shanghai Sharks for 20 million yuan ($2.93 million) in July, Yao became the new head of the basketball team and has vowed to help it back to the top. "In the coming years our team will work hard to win more games. Looking into the eyes of our young players, I feel Shanghai will soon rise to the top again, " Yao said..

Before heading off to the NBA in 2002, Yao led the club to its only CBA championship that season. Since then, the Sharks have struggled and even lost their main sponsor at the beginning of this year due to poor results which saw the side finish second last in the league.

Yao is not the only prominent person interested in the rapidly-developing CBA. China-born businessman Huang Jianhua took over the Jilin team in October.