Shanghai secured the first gold medal of China's 15th National Games with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Guangdong in the U16 women's football final at Guangzhou's Tianhe Stadium. The tightly contested match saw both teams create pivotal moments, with Shanghai's goalkeeper Bai Shuiling making a crucial penalty save in the 33rd minute to keep the game level.
The decisive breakthrough came in the 75th minute when forward Cheng Wandi calmly converted a penalty for Shanghai, cementing their 15th National Games triumph. This victory underscores Shanghai's growing prominence in youth sports development and adds another chapter to China's expanding women's football legacy.
As the opening competitive event of the quadrennial National Games – China's premier domestic sports competition – the match drew attention to emerging athletic talent across provinces. Analysts suggest such events increasingly serve as talent pipelines for China's national teams ahead of international competitions.
