China’s Youth Relay Teams Shatter Records at Asian U20

China’s junior track and field team delivered a commanding performance at the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships, held from May 28 to 31 at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground in Hong Kong. The Chinese contingent of 47 athletes topped the medal table with 14 gold, 9 silver, and 2 bronze medals — a total of 25 — while breaking two long-standing championship records in the process, according to Xinhua News.

A Dominant Medal Haul

China finished well ahead of second-placed India (10 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze) and third-placed Japan (5 gold, 5 silver, 8 bronze), with its gold medal count exceeding those of India and Japan combined. More than 540 athletes from 29 Asian countries and territories competed in the biennial event, which serves as a qualification pathway for the World U20 Athletics Championships later this year.

This was Hong Kong’s first time hosting the Asian U20 Athletics Championships and its first major international athletics event in approximately seven years, with the newly developed Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground providing the venue.

Record-Breaking Relay Performances

The most electrifying moment of the championships came on the final day in the men’s 4x400m relay. The Chinese quartet of Ye Weixin, Li Yongjie, Yang Jia, and Xu Xinlong stormed to gold in 3 minutes 4.88 seconds, smashing Japan’s 27-year-old championship record of 3:07.38 set in 1999. The nearly 2.5-second improvement left spectators and competitors alike in awe.

In the women’s 4x100m relay, the team of Zhang Keyi, Zhou Zhenglin, Zhang Qian, and Chen Xinxuan claimed gold with a well-executed 44.78-second run, demonstrating seamless baton exchanges and raw speed.

Individual Brilliance

Zhang Keyi emerged as one of the standout performers of the championships. In addition to her relay gold, she won the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.38 seconds, breaking a 36-year-old championship record set by Zhang Yu in 1990 (13.45). Her double achievement — a record in an individual event and a relay gold — underscored her exceptional talent.

Other notable Chinese gold medalists included Sun Yuyao (women’s 5000m race walk) and Wang Ankang (men’s hammer throw, 75.07m), who secured China’s first two golds on Day 1; Dai Hongyu (men’s 100m, 10.28); Pan Shuanglu (women’s 3000m, 9:36.02); Wang Zhuoyue (men’s triple jump, 16.42m); Zeng Liang (men’s pole vault, 5.45m); and Li Xiying (women’s pole vault).

Provincial media highlighted the contributions of athletes from across the country. The Shaanxi Daily reported that three athletes from Shaanxi province — Chen Jiajun (women’s hammer throw, 65.46m), Wang Zhuoyue, and Liang Morong (women’s long jump, 6.05m) — each won gold medals.

Depth Across Disciplines

China’s medal haul was notable not just for its size but for its breadth. Gold medals were won across sprints, middle-distance, hurdles, jumps, throws, and race walking, demonstrating strength in both track and field events. The 9 silver and 2 bronze medals further illustrated the depth of China’s youth talent pipeline, with podium finishes in events where Chinese athletes have traditionally been less dominant.

As independent commentary from Sohu News observed: “While everyone is discussing Chinese track and field relying on a few star athletes to carry the show, this youth army has already declared with overwhelming performance: our bench depth is unfathomable.”

Competitive Landscape

India finished second overall with 10 gold medals, highlighted by a championship-record performance in the women’s 4x400m relay (3:38.07). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the country’s youth athletes on social media following the conclusion of the championships. Japan placed third with 5 golds, demonstrating particular strength in hurdles and middle-distance events. Other notable medal winners included the UAE (5 gold), Qatar (3 gold), Chinese Taipei (2 gold), South Korea (2 gold), and Sri Lanka (2 gold). A total of 16 countries and territories earned at least one medal.

Looking Ahead

The championships serve as a qualification event for the 2026 World U20 Athletics Championships, and several Chinese athletes who excelled in Hong Kong are expected to compete on the global stage later this year. The performance signals a promising pipeline of talent for China’s senior national team, with potential implications for future Olympic Games and World Championships.

For Hong Kong, the successful hosting of the event demonstrated its capability to organize major international sports competitions, building momentum for future athletics events in the region.