China's Zhang, Qin named Hangzhou Asiad MVP
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E-mail Xinhua, October 8, 2023
Chinese swimmers Zhang Yufei and Qin Haiyang were jointly awarded Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Hangzhou Asian Games on Saturday.
Qin Haiyang of Shanghai competes in the men's 50m breaststroke final at the Chinese swimming spring championships in Qingdao, China on March 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Olympic champion Zhang, 25, clinched six titles across her signature events of butterfly, freestyle and relays. "I will give myself 95 out of 100 for my performances at these Games and hope to do better in Paris next year," she said after concluding her campaign in Hangzhou.
"I am really honored to be named MVP of the Asian Games on home soil. It is a memorable experience for me. Thanks a lot for all the support which gave me a lot of confidence. I will keep chasing my dreams to attain new heights," said Zhang.
World champion Qin pocketed five golds and a silver on his second Asiad appearance, including a hat-trick in the men's 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, repeating his feat from July's World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
"Before the Asian Games, I didn't think about how many golds I would get. I just wanted to do what I could in every event. It was more about letting nature take its course," Qin said.
The 24-year-old also eyed next year's Paris Olympics. "It is the first time in Asiad history that a female and a male athlete have shared the MVP honor. I will take it as motivation to achieve the best results in Paris."
According to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the award was allocated based on an overall assessment of athletes' performance, sportsmanship and social influence.
The closing ceremony of the Hangzhou Asian Games will be held on Sunday.
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