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All-China Gaelic Games Results

Monday, 9th June 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

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The All-China Gaelic Games were held in Beijing this weekend, with teams competing in a 7-a-side Gaelic football tournament Saturday. Men's and women's teams from Dalian, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Beijing faced off at Xiaowuji football grounds in southeast Beijing.

The home team won the women's competition, beating the Shanghai club soundly in the final game. Shanghai turned the tables for the men's final, beating Beijing with a score of 25-5.

Aside from the football played, plenty of Guinness was enjoyed on this cool and wet June day. The teams all migrated to an after party at the Irish embassy, hosted by the Irish ambassador to China.

China's Gaelic football teams are all-comers organizations that welcome new members for training, competing and socializing.

Links:
Beijing Gaelic Athletic Association
Shanghai Gaelic Football Club
Hong Kong Gaelic Athletic Association
Dalian GAA Club

Tags: Gaelic Athletic Association, gaelic football, recreation

DPRK Win AFC Women's Cup, China Runners Up

Monday, 9th June 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

Shang Ruihua
Shang Ruihua
The Chinese women's soccer (football) team fell to North Korea last night, 2-1, in the final of the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Vietnam. Bi Yan scored China's only goal, striking early in the game's 11th minute.

North Korea's Ri Kum-suk brought the game even with a header in the 58th minute. Kim Yong-ae got the game winner off a rebound in the 68th minute.

"This has been the best game for us in the Asian Cup," China coach Shang Ruihua told FIFA, the sport's international governing body. "Although before the game we had expected that we could defend our Asian title, DPR Korea proved to be the better side."


China had wins over Vietnam, Thailand and Japan in the tournament. The team is currently ranked 14th in the world.

Image: FIFA.com

Tags: Bi Yan, football, Shang Ruihua, soccer

Happy Dragon Boat Day

Monday, 9th June 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

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Most of China is off work today for the Dragon Boat Festival. The holiday is celebrated by eating zong zi, sweet and sticky rice wrapped in corn leaves, and by holding dragon boat races. Here is an article detailing the most popular story about the festival's origin.

If you live in a Chinese city with a pliable body of water, you may be able to catch a live race today between two of these beautifully painted boats, which typically carry about 20 paddlers. Dragon Boat Festival has been celebrated for centuries in China. Maybe we shouldn't be so surprised at the emergence of China as a formidable force in the sport of rowing.

Image: Dragonboat.org

Tags: dragon boat festival, rowing, traditional games

Liu Xiang Grounded Again

Monday, 9th June 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

Liu on the cover of Men's Vogue China in April
Liu on the cover of Men's Vogue China in April
A week after withdrawing from the Reebok Grand Prix in New York, Liu Xiang (刘翔) was disqualified for a false start at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. His absence allowed Americans to sweep the 110-meter hurdle race.

"I don't really know what happened on the false start," he told an interpreter. "My speed is so fast I did not realize I had the false start."

Liu has been nursing a tight right hamstring, but he and his trainer say he will definitely run in the Beijing Olympics in August. As the world record holder in the 110-meter hurdles, one of China's few track and field medal hopes and an endorsement juggernaut, Liu might have the most important pair of legs in China right now (yes, more important than Yao Ming's).

Image: haibao.cn

Tags: athletics, Liu Xiang, Olympics, track and field