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China dominates women's flag football tournament

chinadaily.com.cn| Updated: October 27, 2025 L M S

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China's women's team competes fiercely in the final. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

China claimed the women's title at the 2025 IFAF Asia-Oceania Flag Football Championships in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on Oct 26, securing qualification for the 2026 IFAF World Championships in Dusseldorf.

China edged out Japan 25-22 in the Asian women's final in the morning after a late comeback, before defeating Australia 36-29 in the intercontinental final later in the afternoon to complete a clean sweep on home soil.

Local player Feng Huiting, a teacher at Fenghua High School, said the victory held special significance. "Family, Finish, Focus — that's our 'Three F Rule'," she explained. "We don't give up until the final whistle. This is just the beginning — we're determined to make an impact at the world championships."

The championships marked the first top-tier continental event since flag football was included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games program. Held under updated IFAF rules, the competition featured men's, women's, and U17 divisions, with 31 teams from 15 countries and regions competing in 87 games.

China also achieved strong results in other categories. The men's team opened with comfortable wins over Kuwait and India, while the U17 squad swept Hong Kong, Kuwait, and South Korea to claim its division. Australia won the men's title, followed by Japan and American Samoa.

IFAF President Pierre Trochet praised China's performance, noting the team's impressive skills, excellent teamwork, and cohesion. He also expressed confidence in the squad's future potential.