CNG Throwback: The Final Finals

A companion piece to our previous CNG Throwback, today's throwback will look at the mixed doubles finals at 2013 Chinese National Games. We see Guo Yue in the finals again in 2013. This time she was partnering Li Jiayi but they did not top the podium this time. Read the post to know more about the story.

Photo: Souhu

High hopes were on Guo Yue, the defending champion who enjoyed home-field advantage at the 2013 Chinese National Games. However Guo Yue had not been in a good shape since the Games started. She did not compete on day 1 because of a fever and injured her neck in the team competition on day 2 forcing her to withdraw from the team event competition. As a result, team Liaoning, the contender for the women's team title, surprisingly lost in the qurterfinals to team Shanxi. After a short rest, Guo Yue played in the women's doubles and made to the finals with Li Jiayi. Their rials were 2-time World champion Cao Zhen and 2-time World runner-up Mu Zi. Having merely home advantage was not enough to win in the finals, only those at top form and have great techniques can walked away with the titles. Mu Zi and Cao Zhen started the game with clear tactics, forcing Li Jiayi who was less competitive  to make error. Despite the Liaoning pair made up some lost ground, Guo Yue and Li Jiayi did not win as the home crowd had wished and lost the match by 1-4.

The 12th Chinese National Games (2013) was also Guo Yue's last national competition (she also played in 2013 CTTSL). She suffered from injuries and walked over the Chinese Trials in 2014. Not long after that she dropped out of the national team and retired. Chinese National Games is a stage where promising young athletes emerge as well as the curtain call for the veterans. Some splashed various colors like a beautiful sunset while some lowered below the horizon unnoticably as if sunsets in cloudy days. This also makes the Chinese National Games so special and memorable. There are some veterans at the 13th Chinese National Games (2017) such as Zhang Chao, Hao Shuai, Mu Zi etc. While following the favorites of the competitions and the exciting finals, don't forget the veterans. As it is not easy for them to maintain a competitive level for a long time, especially in China where competition is intense. Nonetheless, you will find touching moments and encouraging stories from them.


Although I make frequent updates so that I can include more CNG throwbacks before the Games starts, there are always more amazing matches than that I can include. No worries, I have created a playlist to include most of matches from the past Chinese National Games. If I have missed any matches, please remind me in the comment box, I will add them back to the playlist!