Not Just a Teacher, But a Champion: Wang Lili Takes Asian Beach Games Gold

On April 29, the women's 3×3 basketball final of the 6th Asian Beach Games took center stage at the Sanya Sports Center Gymnasium. Wang Lili, a young faculty member of Tianjin University's Physical Education Department, led the Chinese women's 3×3 basketball team to a commanding 21–13 victory over the Philippines, securing another hard-earned gold medal for Team China and shone a spotlight on the fighting spirit of TJU on the international stage.

As a key player for the national squad, Wang Lili demonstrated exceptional leadership and outstanding form throughout the tournament. Starting from the group stage, where China recorded dominant wins of 22–8 against Kazakhstan and 21–5 against Qatar, to a 21–9 quarterfinal triumph over Chinese Taipei, and then a nail-biting 18–16 semifinal victory over Thailand, sealed by Wang's clutch last-second shot, the team marched into the final undefeated with absolute strength. In the closing moments of the title match, Wang grabbed a crucial defensive rebound, stepped calmly beyond the arc, and drained the two-point shot that secured the gold for her team.

Wang Lili boasts an impressive record. She previously guided China to a bronze medal in women's 3×3 basketball at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics—China's best-ever Olympic result in this event—and claimed gold at two consecutive National Games. As an elite international-level athlete, she has persevered on the court with unwavering determination, surmounting injuries without ever stepping away from her dream. At the same time, as a young teacher at Tianjin University, she is deeply engaged in frontline physical education and dedicated to nurturing students. Through special programs such as the "Champion Open Class," she brings the competitive spirit, resilience, and genuine love for sports from the arena directly to TJU students, helping the spirit of sport take root and flourish on campus.

During the 2026 TJU Crabapple Blossom Season secondary school sports exchange, Wang Lili also delivered an inspiring champion open class for visiting students. Drawing on her own journey, she shared her sporting creed of "passion, daring, and belief," igniting athletic dreams in young hearts through the power of her example. From champion classrooms to the Asian stage, she vividly embodies TJU's core ethos of "seeking truth from facts" on the world stage, all in the name of sport.

Tianjin University has long prioritized sports as a pillar of holistic education. By building high-level training and competition platforms, the university encourages both faculty and students to excel not only in academic halls but also in competitive arenas. Through athletic engagement, it aims to strengthen bodies, forge character, and contribute solid "TJU strength" to the building of a leading nation in both education and sports.

By: Yu Boyang