BEIJING, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:

1. Top seed Shi to face Canadian sensation Lai in Badminton worlds semifinals

Top seed Shi Yuqi of China battled past compatriot Weng Hongyang in a grueling three-game contest on Friday to advance to the men's singles semifinals of the Badminton World Championships for the first time in seven years.

Shi eventually prevailed 2-1 (21-15, 7-21, 21-10) and will next face one of the tournament's biggest surprises, Canadian rising star Victor Lai.

China secured medals in all five disciplines, as the World Championships does not feature a bronze medal playoff.

2. China sweeps Dominican Republic to make pool winner at Volleyball Women's World Championship

China swept the Dominican Republic in straight sets 25-15, 25-21, 25-17 on August 27 to complete the preliminary stage undefeated at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship.

Chinese head coach Zhao Yong started outside hitter Wu Mengjie in place of Li Yingying, and the match to determine the Pool F winner went China's way after the score was tied at 10-10 in the first set. With solid blocks, the Chinese side stifled the Dominican offense and pulled away to win 25-15.

The Dominican Republic, which had not dropped a set in its previous two matches, tried to fight back but struggled to find its rhythm against China's well-prepared defense. Outscoring their opponents 13-6 in blocks, China went on to take the next two sets 25-21 and 25-17 for a straight-set victory.

3. Fan Zhendong targets new challenges in Germany with Saarbrucken

Chinese table tennis star Fan Zhendong attended the season launch of Saarbrucken Tischtennis on August 27, confirming that he will compete in the Table Tennis Bundesliga, the German Cup and the Champions League with the club this season.

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Fan won both the men's singles and men's team gold medals, completing the career "Grand Slam" with titles at the World Cup, World Championships and Olympics.

On June 1, Saarbrucken officially announced that Fan would represent the club in the new season.

"I am very happy to join Saarbrucken," Fan said at the press conference. "I played here at the World Cup in 2016 and had wonderful memories. I am grateful for the support and help that made it possible for me to come to Germany to play."

4. Beyond the scoreboard, ZheBA builds belonging across Zhejiang

In mid-August, Zhejiang's province-wide community basketball league, ZheBA, launched the second stage of its season.

The opening phase highlighted the league's grassroots appeal: about 1,650 amateur players competed across the province, drawing 778,800 spectators and more than 100 million online viewers.

Yet beyond the numbers, ZheBA is about more than basketball. It is about collective memory and belonging. It is a platform where factory workers and students share the court, where families pack neighborhood gyms, and where entire cities reconnect through the bounce of a ball.

By centering grassroots basketball and stories rooted in local pride, the league has turned competition into a living archive of Zhejiang's urban spirit.

5. Yang Peiqi seals MVP at World Junior Swimming Championships with five golds

China's Yang Peiqi was named best overall female athlete after winning her fifth title in the women's 200-meter freestyle at the World Junior Swimming Championships August 25.

Yang, 18, who had already won the 400-meter, 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle events as well as the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, overcame sore muscles and lack of sleep to clock one minute 56.26 seconds in a new championship record. She later added a silver medal in the women's 4x100-meter medley relay.