On the afternoon of September 9, Secretary-General Zhu Jian, on behalf of the Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Municipal Government, and the people of Hengyang City, visited the basketball arena at the City Sports Center to extend congratulations and express high esteem to the coaches and athletes of the Hengyang delegation—representing Hunan Province in the men's adult basketball competition of the 15th Provincial Games.
The men's basketball final of the 15th Provincial Games concluded on the evening of September 8. Through exceptional teamwork, resilience, and outstanding athletic performance, the Hengyang team secured the championship—a historic achievement for the city. This afternoon, the delegation returned home in triumph, receiving a warm civic reception. Secretary-General Zhu Jian, accompanied by other municipal leaders, engaged in an in-depth and cordial exchange with team members, gaining detailed insights into their training regimen and competitive experience, and jointly commemorated the occasion with photographs.
Secretary-General Zhu Jian emphasized that the gold medal won by the Hengyang men's basketball team at the 15th Provincial Games constitutes not only a distinguished honor for the coaching staff and athletes but also a source of collective pride for Hengyang City. On behalf of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, he extended heartfelt gratitude and profound respect to each member of the team for their unwavering dedication and courageous performance on the court. He noted that every defensive effort, offensive maneuver, and moment of perseverance embodied Hengyang's core spirit: "pioneering initiative, pursuit of excellence, unity and concerted endeavor, and indomitable perseverance." This achievement belongs equally to the athletes who trained rigorously and competed selflessly—and to the 8 million residents of Hengyang; it reflects both individual excellence and shared civic glory. He sincerely encouraged the team to continue anchoring their development in Hengyang's vibrant, cohesive community—to strengthen collective cohesion, strive for higher aspirations, and scale new heights in future competitions.
It is reported that the men's adult basketball competition of the 15th Provincial Games comprised two phases: the group stage and the cross-elimination stage. In the group stage, the Hengyang team competed against Shaoyang, Yiyang, Zhuzhou, and Chenzhou. While suffering one narrow loss to Yiyang, the team secured decisive victories over the other three opponents and advanced to the cross-elimination round. There, they defeated Xiangtan before facing Yiyang—the host city and their earlier group-stage adversary—in the final. Demonstrating psychological fortitude and tactical adaptability, the Hengyang team overcame prior setbacks, prevailing 83–80 to claim the title. Composed primarily of elite players from Qidong—including team captain Liu Wei—the delegation exemplified talent integration and strategic synergy. Their victory over formidable opponents marked a landmark breakthrough, galvanizing civic morale and reinforcing a shared commitment to excellence across all sectors—thereby contributing vital spiritual impetus to Hengyang's high-quality development.
Municipal leaders Liu Zhangyu, Zhou Yumei, Liu Ping, and Xie Hong attended the event.