The Guangdong women's handball team celebrated their best-ever finish in the team's history at China's National Games by taking silver at the 15th National Games women's handball finals held on Sept 19 in Guangdong's coastal city of Shantou.
Guangdong team VS Jiangsu team.
Jiangsu clinched their third consecutive gold medal at China's National Games after a commanding 32-23 victory over Guangdong. Shanghai rounded out the podium by securing the bronze medal.
Though falling short against a dominant Jiangsu side, the silver medal marks a historic achievement for Guangdong.
Having finished seventh in the previous National Games, the squad made impressive strides throughout the competition. Reaching the final alone was a milestone, and their runner-up finish sets a new standard for their performance.
Guangdong team is wearing black jerseys.
Jiangsu's path to the title was nothing short of dominant. They swept through the group stage with four straight wins—defeating Guangdong, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Macao—finishing with a staggering 63-goal difference. Their momentum continued into the knockout stage, where they crushed Guangxi 45-19 in the quarterfinals.
The emotional core of the night belonged to Jiangsu's player, Jin Mengqing, who broke down in tears after the match. With several longtime teammates set to retire, this victory carried profound significance.
Jiangsu team entered the tournament as the favorites.
"This three-peat means so much to all of us," said Jin. "Now we're looking beyond domestic success—we aim to make an impact in Asia. Our next goals are to compete with powerhouses like South Korea and Japan."
The tournament kicked off on September 10 in Shantou and featured 10 teams from across China, including Hong Kong and Macao. A total of 33 matches were played throughout the competition.
Jiangsu's triumph cements its status as a handball powerhouse, while Guangdong's breakthrough offers promise for the future of the sport in the region.
Reporter | Huang Xinyi
Photo | Qin Shaolong
Video/Poster | Qin Shaolong
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
