BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:

1. Olympic champion Wu Dajing named China short track head coach

Olympic champion Wu Dajing has been appointed head coach of China's short track speed skating team, China's Winter Sports Management Center announced on August 12.

Wu, 32, became the first Chinese man to win Olympic gold in short track speed skating when he captured the 500 meters at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. He also helped China win the mixed 2,000-meter relay title at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

China took only one silver medal in short track at Milan-Cortina earlier this year, its first Winter Olympics without a gold medal in the sport since 2002.

2. Zhang/Siniakova win WTA Toronto doubles title for third team crown

Top seeds Zhang Shuai of China and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic won the women's doubles title at the WTA 1000 event in Toronto on August 13, beating third-seeded Sara Errani and Nicole Melichar-Martinez 6-3, 6-4 in the final.

The title was Zhang's fourth doubles trophy on tour this year and the 19th of her career. It was also the third title Zhang and Siniakova have won together and their second championship as a pair this year.

They were in control throughout the final, playing steadily and converting their opportunities to finish the tournament without losing a set.

The pair defeated several strong teams on their way to the final, including Coco Gauff and Caty McNally as well as Sorana Cirstea and Mirra Andreeva.

3. China's Lin/Kuai retain mixed doubles title at WTT Europe Smash

China's Lin Shidong and Kuai Man retained the mixed doubles title at the WTT Europe Smash Sweden on August 14, while five paddlers from Team China advanced to the women's singles quarterfinals.

Earlier in the day, Lin and Kuai cruised past Chinese Taipei's Lin Yun-ju and Cheng I-ching 3-0 in the semifinal.

Facing Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem of Hong Kong, China in the final, the Chinese pair lost the opening game 11-4, but responded by winning 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 to seal a 3-1 comeback victory.

In the women's singles, China's Wang Manyu, Chen Yi, Wang Yidi, Kuai Man and Shi Xunyao advanced to the last eight.

The 2026 WTT Europe Smash is held from August 8 to 16 in the southern Swedish city of Malmo, which hosts the event for the second consecutive year.

4. Olympic snowboarding champion Su Yiming takes on UNCCD role to promote land resilience

China's Olympic snowboarding champion Su Yiming has been named the latest Sport4Land Champion for Resilience by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification on August 12.

As a Sport4Land Champion for Resilience, Su will work with the UNCCD to engage young people and sports communities in land restoration, drought resilience and sustainable land management.

According to Su's team, snowboarding depends on a healthy mountain environment, with stable snowfall, resilient landscapes and thriving ecosystems providing essential foundations for the sport.

The 22-year-old is known as one of the world's leading snowboarders. At the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, he won gold in men's big air and silver in slopestyle, becoming China's first Olympic snowboarding champion. At the 2026 Winter Olympics, he claimed another gold in slopestyle and bronze in big air.

5. Zhang Ziyu sits out, China loses to Nigeria in women's basketball warmup game

China's women's basketball team lost 88-77 to Nigeria in a warmup game on August 12, with Zhang Ziyu and Wang Siyu sidelined by injuries, to finish the three-game series with two wins and one loss.

China made just two 3-pointers in the first half, shooting 16.7 percent from 3-point range. Nigeria built a commanding 58-29 halftime lead.

China improved after the break, launching a 10-2 run led by Chen Mingling while limiting the impact of Nigeria's starting point guard Ezinne Kalu. Zhang Manman and Yang Shuyu then hit difficult 3-pointers to cut the deficit to 10 points.

China, however, committed two turnovers at a crucial stage, allowing Nigeria to capitalize on fast-break opportunities and stabilize its lead. Nigeria eventually held on for the victory.

After completing the three-game series against Nigeria, China will return to training camp in Beijing before heading to Europe in late August for several warmup games as part of its final preparations for the World Cup.