China celebrated a historic milestone at the World Breaking Championships in Chengdu on Saturday, securing two medals and marking its best-ever performance at the event.
Paris Olympics bronze medalist Liu Qingyi, also known by her stage name B-Girl 671, clinched the silver medal in the women’s category. In a thrilling semifinal, Liu triumphed over Lithuania’s Dominika Banevich with a 2-1 victory, avenging her previous loss in the Olympic semifinals. In the final, she faced the Netherlands’ India Dewi Sardjoe, who secured gold with a narrow 2-1 win.
“My main goal in this competition was to dance happily while exploring new areas and methods that are not my strength,” Liu expressed after the event. “Dance is an art form, and I don’t want to always win by performing in just one way. I want to express myself through various styles.”
On the men’s side, Wang Ruimiao, known as B-Boy Monkey Z, made an impressive debut. The 19-year-old advanced to the semifinals and clinched the bronze medal after defeating Ukraine’s Oleg Kuznietsov 3-0, earning China’s first-ever podium finish in the men’s division at the World Breaking Championships. The gold medal went to Japan’s Isshin Hishikawa.
This year’s championships, the first since breaking made its Olympic debut at Paris 2024, attracted over 180 athletes from 31 nations and regions. The event not only showcased the growing popularity of breaking but also served as a qualifier, with the winners and runners-up earning direct entry into the 2025 World Games.
The Chinese team’s success in Chengdu reflects the country’s rapid progress in the global breaking scene. With young talents like Liu and Wang making their mark, China’s influence in this dynamic sport continues to rise.
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China celebrates historic success at World Breaking Championships
cgtn.com
