By Fang Jingyi
In the first quarter of 2025, Hangzhou is set to host a series of high-profile sports events, including international competitions and popular marathon races.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC Asian Qualifiers Round 3 will feature a match between Team China and Team Australia. This exciting event will take place on Mar 25 at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, which also hosted the opening ceremony of Hangzhou Asian Games. The last encounter between the two teams was in October 2024, when Team China lost to Team Australia 1∶3 in Adelaide.
In addition, the Karate1 Premier League will be held in Hangzhou from Mar 13 to 16. This is the most prestigious series of karate competitions globally, bringing together the world’s top karate athletes. Only athletes ranked in the top 100 of the WKF rankings (as of the first day of registration) are eligible to participate. They will compete for 12 gold medals. The Hangzhou tournament plays a key role in determining the season’s Grand Winners.
Basketball fans can also look forward to exciting matches. The 2024-2025 WCBA All-Star Weekend will return to Hangzhou this February. Last year, the event was held at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, and this year it will be staged at the Huanglong Sports Center Gymnasium, another venue for the Asian Games.
The Spring season will also see a surge in marathon events. Two half-marathon races, the 2025 Linping Half Marathon and the Hangzhou Dream Town Half Marathon, will take place over consecutive weekends in March, bringing excitement to Linping and Yuhang districts, respectively. Both events are now open for registration.