China bags four swimming golds, retains women's table tennis team title at 2026 Asian Games

China enjoyed another successful day at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Thursday, collecting four swimming titles before the women's table tennis team retained its crown with a 3-0 victory over event host Japan.

Wu Qingfeng got China's gold rush in the pool underway by winning the women's 50-meter freestyle in 23.98 seconds, setting a new Asian Games record and finishing just 0.01 seconds off the continental record. Cheng Yujie picked up bronze for China.

Zhang Zhanshuo then broke the Asian Games record in the men's 800-meter freestyle, touching the wall in 7:42.49 for his fifth gold medal at this edition of the continental competition.

The 19-year-old later returned to help China win the men's 4×100-meter freestyle relay alongside Zhao Jiayue, Wang Haoyu and Pan Zhanle. The quartet clocked 3:10.60 to set new Asian and Asian Games records, with the victory giving Zhang his sixth title at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

China completed its four-gold haul by defending the women's 4×200-meter freestyle relay crown. Li Jiaping, Liu Yaxin, Yu Yiting and Li Bingjie finished in 7:49.37, more than 10 seconds ahead of Japan, while the Republic of Korea took bronze.

China also topped the podium in women's table tennis, beating host nation Japan 3-0 in the team final to clinch the title for the sixth consecutive edition of the Asian Games.

Sun Yingsha opened the championship contest with a 3-1 (11-4, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7) victory over Hina Hayata, before Wang Manyu came through a five-game battle against Miwa Harimoto, prevailing 3-2 (6-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10). Kuai Man then completed the sweep by thrashing Mima Ito 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-7).

The triumph gave China its 12th overall Asian Games gold in the women's table tennis team event.