The Chinese national under-23 football team received enthusiastic applause on arrival at the Beijing Daxing International Airport on Monday afternoon, after the team finished their U23 Asian Cup campaign with a sensational second place finish, a historic record in the team's history.

The team conceded no goal before the final. Their journey at the tournament marks the best record for a Chinese men's under-23 football team.

Keeper Li Hao, who made his name through his clean-sheet performances from the group and knockout stages between the sticks, shrugged off the defeat in the final as an "honorable" one.

"We beat many strong opponents to finish second, but a loss in the final is still a loss," he told reporters at the airport. "There's no such thing as 'honorable defeat.' We'll review it back home."

"Personally, I did everything I could within my abilities. Seeing so many fans come to the airport to welcome us back means a lot, and I'm very grateful for their support."

Li is currently with Chinese Super League (CSL) club Qingdao West Coast, who finished ninth in the 16-team last season. Rumors have it that several CSL title contenders have shown interest in signing him before the 2026 season starts.