China has marked a historic milestone at the World Breaking Championships held in Chengdu, achieving its best-ever performance with two medals. On Saturday, Liu Qingyi, also known as B-Girl 671 and a bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics, clinched the silver medal in the women’s event. Meanwhile, Wang Ruimiao earned the country’s first-ever podium finish on the men’s side by securing the bronze medal.
This year’s World Championships, the first since breaking made its Olympic debut at Paris 2024, brought together over 180 athletes from 31 nations and regions. The competition was intensified by the stakes, as the men’s and women’s winners and runners-up earned direct entry into the 2025 World Games.
Liu Qingyi showcased exceptional skill, defeating Lithuania’s Dominika Banevich 2-1 to advance to the women’s final, avenging her previous defeat in the Olympic semifinals. In the title contest, she introduced several new elements to her performance against India’s Dewi Sardjoe from the Netherlands. Despite her innovative approach, Sardjoe, who placed fourth at the Paris Games, edged out Liu with a 2-1 victory to claim the gold medal.
“My main goal in this competition is to dance happily while also exploring 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, as I want to express myself through various styles.”
On the men’s side, China’s presence was strong, with two athletes advancing to the last 16. Qi Xiangyu, who finished fourth at last season’s World Championships, narrowly missed a spot in the quarterfinals. However, debutant Wang Ruimiao, known as B-Boy Monkey Z, made an impressive run. The 19-year-old secured the bronze medal after defeating Ukraine’s Oleg Kuznietsov 3-0, marking China’s first-ever medal in the men’s division at the World Breaking Championships. The gold in the men’s event was won by Japan’s Isshin Hishikawa.
China’s achievements at the championships reflect the country’s growing prominence in the global breaking scene. The success of athletes like Liu and Wang not only inspires aspiring dancers but also showcases the depth of talent emerging from the Chinese breaking community.
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China celebrates historic success at World Breaking Championships
cgtn.com
