Chinese Wushu star Lu Zhuoling made history on Friday by claiming her nation's first gold medal at the 2025 Chengdu World Games. The 21-year-old athlete dominated the women's Taijiquan-Taijijian combined event, scoring 19.522 points across two routines in Sichuan Province's bustling capital.
Lu delivered a near-flawless morning Taijiquan performance (9.796 points) followed by a strong third-place finish in the evening Taijijian competition. Her combined total edged out Singapore's Zeanne Law (19.430) and Malaysia's Chin Sy Xuan Sydney (19.410).
"This gold medal is the best birthday gift I could ask for," said Lu, who celebrates her 22nd birthday on August 22. "The audience's energy helped me push through nerves – I performed exactly as I trained."
The victory highlights Wushu's growing global appeal, with athletes from 12 countries competing in the martial arts discipline. Lu expressed confidence in its Olympic future: "More young people worldwide are embracing Wushu. Its journey to the Olympic stage is just a matter of time."
Wushu, China's traditional martial art combining performance and combat techniques, remains a crowd favorite at international sporting events. The Taijiquan-Taijijian combination requires athletes to demonstrate precision in slow-motion routines and sword techniques, judged on technical accuracy and artistic expression.
