National championships sound wake-up call for Chinese weightlifting team

The 2020 National Women's Weightlifting Championships and Tokyo Olympics simulation games recently ended in Shaoyang, central China's Hunan province.

The 2020 National Women's Weightlifting Championships and Tokyo Olympics simulation games recently ended in Shaoyang, central China's Hunan province.

Two of the powerful women had broken world records, and some weightlifters set multiple new national records during the competition. In addition, some fresh blood saw good results as well.

However, Zhang Guozheng, the coach of the Chinese women's weightlifting national team, told Xinhua, "I feel bad after the competition."

Since the IWF approved new bodyweight categories in 2018, the national women's weightlifting team has swiftly adjusted to the international arena.

The weightlifters continue winning medals at the international level and frequently break world records. Besides, key athletes have already gained enough points and qualified for the games in Tokyo.

It looked like everything was running smoothly, until unexpected and worrisome situations surfaced during recent competitions.

The 2020 National Women's Weightlifting Championships and Tokyo Olympics simulation games recently ended in Shaoyang, central China's Hunan province.

Except for the injured lifters, a total of 13 national team members returned to their respective local teams to compete in seven categories, but five of the weightlifter's failed to achieve results that would put them in the top three.

Data shows that only Wang Zhouyu had 100 percent success from all attempts. Eight national team players failed three times, including six failures in the first lifting trial.

These results were very disappointing to a team that is known for its high success rate.

Head coach Zhang saw this competition as a wake-up call.

"We have to know our weaknesses by analyzing problems exposed from the games," said the head coach.

National team members are experienced and the national championship may not carry much weight. But as Zhang says, "Training is no comparison to real competition."

The 2020 National Women's Weightlifting Championships and Tokyo Olympics simulation games recently ended in Shaoyang, central China's Hunan province.

In other words, it is competing that can test the athletes' technical capabilities and psychological qualities.

Some national team members said that they suffered from mental fatigue due to prolonged quarantine management during the outbreak of COVID-19, and that their performances were also affected by a long absence from competition.

One of the officials analyzed that it is difficult to maintain good competitive form, not only because of the mental problems, but also because the postponement of the Olympics has resulted in some athletes needing to recover from injuries, which they originally planned to 'tough it out'.

The domestic championship also saw many of the young athletes achieve excellent result. However, when taking their comprehensive strength, Olympic points, the rules, and other factors into account, it is not realistic that the newcomers will make the national team for the upcoming Olympics.

The 2020 National Women's Weightlifting Championships and Tokyo Olympics simulation games recently ended in Shaoyang, central China's Hunan province.

At the very least, those young talents have created a competitive atmosphere for the national team.

"I hope everyone will work hard for the goal of the Olympics," said Zhang.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres will host the NHL draft in June, commissioner Gary Bettman announced Monday, with highly prized prospect Gavin McKenna as the centerpiece of the event.

Bettman made the announcement while joined by Sabres executives, including team owner Terry Pegula, during a news conference before Buffalo's home game against the Florida Panthers.

“This is a great sports town, a great hockey market. The reception we get here is always terrific,” Bettman said. “Fans are knowledgeable and passionate. We’ve got a great organization with great ownership. All the factors that you would take into account, the boxes are checked in a first-class way.”

The two-day draft was already set for June 26-27, with the league going with a decentralized format for a second straight year. The format features prospects and their families attending the draft, while teams make the picks from their home markets.

The draft in Buffalo will be held at the Sabres home arena, KeyBank Center. That’s a switch from last year, when the two-day event was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Buffalo has also been home to the NHL’s annual pre-draft combine since 2015, and will once again host the league's top prospects this spring.

This will mark the fourth time the Sabres host the draft — the second-most by any NHL team behind only Montreal's 27. Buffalo most recently held the event in 2016, when Auston Matthews was selected No. 1 by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This time, all eyes will be on McKenna, the Penn State freshman forward who has long been projected to be the 2026 draft’s No. 1 pick.

The draft announcement coincided with NHL Central Scouting releasing its mid-season rankings of prospects with McKenna topping the list of North American prospects, ahead of North Dakota's Keaton Verhoeff. Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg tops the list of international players.

The 18-year-old McKenna is from Whitehorse, Yukon, and made a major splash this summer when he elected to leave the Canadian Hockey League after two-plus seasons in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and make the jump to Happy Valley. The move south came in the first offseason after the NCAA lifted its longtime ban in making CHL players eligible to compete at the college ranks.

McKenna has been labeled a “generational talent,” and regarded as the 2026 draft’s top prospect since 2024.

McKenna ranks fourth on the Nittany Lions and seventh among NCAA freshmen with four goals and 15 assists for 19 points in 18 games.

The college ranks are considered more challenging because a majority of players are 19 and older, as opposed to the CHL where the age range is 16 to 20.

Pegula is a Penn State alum, and donated more than $100 million to help launch the Nittany Lions men’s and women’s hockey program in 2013, which included the construction of a new arena that bears his name.

“When we opened the arena, I remember part of my speech was maybe someday the next Sidney Crosby will come out of this arena,” Pegula said, referring to the Penguins captain. “So I don’t know where Gavin’s going to get drafted. I’m not making any predictions. But he’s a great young player and it’s nice to prospects like that starting to come out of Central PA.”

As a member of Canada’s bronze medal-winning team at the recent world junior championships, McKenna finished the tournament second with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in seven games.

McKenna thrived at Medicine Hat, where he had 91 goals and 198 assists for 289 points in 158 career games. Last season, he failed to register a point in just four outings, while closing the year with a 45-game point streak in which McKenna combined for 32 goals and 100 points.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Canada's Gavin McKenna speaks to media following a practice during the IIHF World Junior Championship, in Minneapolis on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada forward Gavin McKenna (9) controls the puck during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship bronze medal game against Finland, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)