Chinese athletes won all together 106 world championships in 2005, with eight individuals and two teams breaking world records 21 times in 15 sporting items.

The state's General Administration of Sport awarded a group of institutions and individuals who had made great contributions to the development of China's sport over the past year, at a recent work meeting attended by sports government officials.

The contributions were judged based on such criteria as the number of athletes that local sports bureaus sent to national teams, how many world records or Asia records individual players or teams made, and the good performances players or teams made at important international or Asian sports events.

The Guangdong Sports Bureau, together with nine other local institutions was awarded due to their contributions in sending excellent players to national teams. 152 athletes were honored, including Olympic diving champion Guo Jingjing, women's table tennis Olympic winner Wang Nan, one of fastest women on ice Yang Yang, top-seeded table tennis players Wang Liqin and Zhang Yining and world boxing championship silver medal winner Zou Shiming.

81 coaches received sports honor medals for the achievement their teams made over the past year, which included short track speeding team coach Xin Qingshan，national women's table tennis team coach Shi Zhihao, badminton team coach Li Yongbo, and coach of Chinese gymnasium team coach Lu Shanzhen.?

(Chinanews.cn January 28, 2006)