China's double world champion gymnast Li Xiaopeng has caused the biggest surprise by beating hotly favored NBA star Yao Ming to be named China's Sportsman of the Year 2002.

Yao Ming, the most well known basketball player in the country, was instead elected Most Popular Sportsman of the Year.

At the awards ceremony Friday night in Beijing, similarly favored Olympic champion short track speed skater Yang Yang won the Sportswoman of the Year title as widely expected.

Yang Yang made history at last year's Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games when she won the country's first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal in the women's 500 meters event.

The annual China Sports Awards are given to honor China's top sportsmen and sportswomen for their achievements during the past year.

(Cri.com.cn March 1, 2003)