sports

Robot, Giant, Ha Baby: China’s Many Versions of Erling Haaland

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

The Norway and Manchester City striker has become an online obsession in China, with fans creating memes and remixes exaggerating his size, expressions, and on-field feats.

Li Xin

No Team at the World Cup, China Rallies Around a Referee

Ma Ning, a veteran referee nicknamed “card master,” has become an unlikely celebrity in China, attracting sponsorship deals, viral memes, and millions of social media interactions.

The Rage, Love, and Loneliness Behind China’s Toxic Sports Fandom

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

Shippers, solo stans, and spreadsheets — Chinese authorities step in as online attacks and arguments engulf the world of elite table tennis.

White Night Workshop

Why the World Cup No Longer Feels Guaranteed on Chinese TV

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

As FIFA demanded soaring broadcasting fees, many Chinese viewers began questioning whether the World Cup still holds the same cultural and commercial value it once did.

Kong Degang

Chinese Swimming Star in Hot Water Over Reality Show Conduct

Citing arguments with his wife and conflict with other cast members, netizens likened the Olympic swimmer to a toddler and called him a “mama’s boy.”

He Qitong

China and FIFA Face Off Over World Cup Broadcast Rights

The football association asked for a record $250 million from the country’s state-owned TV broadcasting company, with negotiations failing to bring the price down to what the network deemed acceptable.

Fan Yiying

China’s Wu Yize Wins World Snooker Title, Second-Youngest Ever

The 22-year-old is the second Chinese player to win the championship, and the first born after 2000 to do so.

1 in 2,000: The Long Odds of Becoming a Pro Gamer in China

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

China became the world’s largest esports market in less than a decade. Now, as clubs cut back and the old pipeline tightens, breaking through is harder than ever.

Chinese Robot Runner Beats Men’s Half-Marathon World Record

The robot, named “Lightning,” was crowned the winner of the country’s second annual mixed human-robot half-marathon.

Chen Yiru

Chinese Cities Are Issuing Housing Subsidies to Marathon Runners

Those who register or compete in specific races are eligible for discounts on homes in specific areas.

Spurs to Shaolin: Inside NBA Star Wemby’s Secret Temple Retreat

A Shaolin master explains how kung fu and meditation training in China helped basketball prodigy Victor Wembanyama reach the next level.

Fir  Record

From Repair Shop to World Podium: Chinese Biker Goes Viral After Historic Win

A former rural repair apprentice has headed the first-ever Chinese motorcycle brand to win the Supersport World Championship.

Jiang Xinyi

The Rapid Rise of China’s Merch-Driven F1 Fandom

Once an exclusively Western sport, motorsport has recently exploded in popularity in China, with fan clubs, merchandise trading, and Chinese brands adding unique color to the scene.

Can China Repeat Its Winter Paralympic Success Abroad?

After a record-breaking performance in Beijing, China returns to the Milano-Cortina Paralympics with 70 athletes and titles to defend.

Li Pasha

A Private League Tests a New Pro Baseball Playbook in China

In its debut season, the new Chinese Professional Baseball emphasized atmosphere and fan engagement as part of its strategy to grow professional baseball.

Mathew Scott

Nie Weiping, the ‘Wild Warrior’ Who Restored China’s Confidence in Go

Victories against once-dominant players from Japan made Nie Weiping, who died Wednesday, a national hero, and helped spark a boom of interest in the ancient game of Go.

Cai Yineng

Step Up: Hunan Brings Student Players Into Adult Soccer League

Chinese provincial soccer leagues are gaining popularity among students and their families, with one province taking the lead.

China’s Artist-Turned-MMA Star Tries Her Hand at Slapping

China’s first female Power Slap fighter Ding Miao explains how the nascent sport is helping her combat her fears.

The Paper

Pain, Hunger, Viral Fame: Inside China’s Wildest Survival Show

In Hunan province’s mountains, a bare-bones survival show pushes ordinary people to the edge while millions watch, searching for something real in an increasingly curated digital world.

Muscle, Memory: Inside China’s Last Bull Wrestling School 

In eastern China, a 71-year-old Hui Muslim master works to keep the 700-year-old tradition of bull wrestling from fading into history.