Sixteen-year-old Chinese breakdancer Guo Pu, known as B-Girl Royal, made history at the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Asian Breaking Championship in Shanghai by clinching both youth and adult titles in a single weekend. Her electrifying performances underscored China's growing influence in the sport ahead of its Olympic debut.
Guo defeated compatriot and Paris Olympics bronze medalist Liu Qingyi in the women's semifinals before overpowering Japan's Riko Tsuhako in the final. Judges praised her technical precision and stage command, with Guo telling reporters: "I danced for myself this time… focused on expressing who I am."
The event highlighted intense China-Japan rivalry, with all eight semifinalists across men's and women's divisions representing the two nations. Japan's Shigeyuki Nakarai (B-Boy Shigekix) claimed gold in the men's category, overcoming three Chinese semifinalists including Qi Xiangyu, who acknowledged needing "more speed and precision" after his final loss.
Nakarai, whose sister Ayane competed in the women's bracket, credited family inspiration for his success: "We're not only opponents, but collaborators who grow together through battle." The event sets the stage for heightened competition as breaking gains global traction through Olympic inclusion.
