On February 22, Beijing time, the 2025 National Indoor Athletics Grand Prix (4th Leg) and the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 Test Event, organized by the Chinese Athletics Association and the Jiangsu Provincial Sports Bureau, and hosted by the Nanjing Municipal Sports Bureau, kicked off at the indoor athletics hall of the Nanjing Sports Training Center.
As the final leg of the 2025 National Indoor Athletics Grand Prix series, this event attracted many top domestic athletes. Outstanding performances were witnessed in multiple eventson the first day of the competition. Notably, before the evening session, the mascot "Cedar" for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 made a surprise appearance.
Stars and Rising Talents Gather for a Spectacular Show
On the first day of the competition, renowned figures in Chinese athletics such as Chen Guanfeng, Liu Dezhu, Wei Yongli, and Niu Chunge took to the track. Undoubtedly, their participation injected a strong dose of shot into the event, significantly boosting its appeal and attention.
In the men's 60m final, Jiangsu’s young athlete Lu Weiyi showcased exceptional talent, clinching the gold medal with an impressive time of 6.64 seconds. In the women's 60m final, Liang Xiaojing from Guangdong delivered a stable and outstanding performance and crossed the finish line first with a time of 7.19 seconds, setting a new Asian season best. Meanwhile, in the men's 1500m final, Tao Peilin leveraged his "home advantage" to secure a strong finish with a time of 3:49.46.
The track events were thrilling, and the field events were equally exciting. In the women's pole vault, Anhui's Niu Chunge was in top form, winning the gold with a height of 4.47 meters. In the women's triple jump, Jiangsu's Zhou Hui delivered an excellent run-up and jump, achieving a distance of 13.72 meters to take the title.
Mixed Results: Achievements and Regrets on the Road to Dreams
As a precursor to the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25, the Nanjing leg provided valuable warm-up opportunities for domestic athletes aiming to compete in March. Athletes sought to find their form and make breakthroughs at the "Nanjing's Cube".
After winning the men's 60m final, Jiangsu's Lu Weiyi said in a post-race interview that his performance matched his training level. He plans to maintain high-intensity training to prepare for upcoming events, striving for even better results. "The competition was fierce. This was my first 1500m race of the year, so my form wasn't ideal," said Liu Dezhu, the "Guangxi Flyer," who finished fourth in the men's 1500m. He expressed some regret but vowed to adjust his mindset and fully prepare for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 in March.
Known as the "Asian Female Flyer," Liang Xiaojing shared her thoughts after the race: "I feel Nanjing is my lucky ground. I will continue to work hard in future competitions, aiming to improve with each race."
In other events held today, Tao Zhongqi won the men's 400m with a time of 47.83 seconds, Cheng Mi took the women's 800m title with 2:08.93, Xu Hui claimed the women's 1500m gold with 4:27.72, Su Wen won the men's triple jump with 17.01 meters, Ruan Chenhang secured the men's shot put title with 19.42 meters, and Dina Nurlan won the women's high jump with a height of 1.87 meters. Notably, Anhui's Zhong Tao, who won the pole vault at the Nanjing leg of the Chinese Athletics Street Tour last May, once again claimed the pole vault title in Nanjing.
Preparing for the World Championships: A Full-Scale Test
From March 21 to 23, the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 will be held at this venue, marking the first time China hosts an indoor athletics world championship. The National Indoor Athletics Grand Prix serves as both a test for the venue and a comprehensive warm-up for the organizing team. "This Grand Prix is largely aligned with the standards of the World Championships. Our venue's team, equipment, facilities, and logistics will undergo a complete test. After the test, we will conduct an internal review to further optimize our event design," said Wang Yang, Deputy Director of the Nanjing Sports Competition and Social Sports Guidance Center.
It is reported that the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 will attract 600 top athletes from approximately 150 countries and regions worldwide, featuring a star-studded lineup. The event will include 26 disciplines such as the 60m, 1500m, 4×400m relay, long jump, pole vault, shot put, women's pentathlon, and men's heptathlon, with an expected field audience of over 10,000. Jiangsu's Liu Junxi, recently hailed as the "second-best" in China's men's 60m hurdles after Liu Xiang with a time of 7.53 seconds, has already begun preparations for the championships. Additionally, Olympic double champion and long jump "Grand Slam" winner Miltiadis Tentoglou from Greece, and Asian record holder and Olympic champion in men's high jump, Mutaz Essa Barshim from Qatar, have registered to compete in Nanjing.
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