The CCTV segment with Gong Lijiao, who won the women’s shot put final on Sunday, also described her as a “manly woman”.

Netizens have criticised the interview calling it sexist and narrow-minded.

They discussed it online with the hashtag: “Is marriage the only thing that can be talked about women?”

The questions have led many to object to what they see as ingrained expectations of Chinese women as well as outdated ideals of beauty and femininity. Read More