China has celebrated an unprecedented success at the World Breaking Championships held in Chengdu, securing two historic medals on Saturday. Paris Olympics bronze medalist Liu Qingyi clinched silver in the women’s event, while Wang Ruimiao earned bronze, marking the country’s first-ever podium finish on the men’s side.
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 stakes were high, with the winners and runners-up in both men’s and women’s events earning direct entry into the 2025 World Games.
Liu, known in the breaking community as B-Girl 671, showcased remarkable skill and determination. She defeated Lithuania’s Dominika Banevich 2-1 in the semifinals, avenging her previous loss in the Olympic semifinals. In the final, Liu introduced fresh elements to her performance against India Dewi Sardjoe from the Netherlands. Despite her efforts, Sardjoe, who placed fourth at the Paris Games, secured the gold with a 2-1 victory.
“My main goal in this competition is to dance happily while exploring areas and methods that are not my strength,” Liu expressed. “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, also known as B-Boy Monkey Z, made a triumphant debut. The 19-year-old advanced to the semifinals, ultimately securing bronze after defeating Ukraine’s Oleg Kuznietsov 3-0. His achievement represents China’s first-ever medal in the men’s division at the World Breaking Championships. The gold medal was claimed by Japan’s Isshin Hishikawa.
Another Chinese athlete, Qi Xiangyu, who placed fourth at last year’s World Championships, advanced to the last 16 but missed out on a spot in the quarterfinals.
China’s historic performance at the championships reflects the country’s growing prominence in the global breaking scene and sets a promising tone for future competitions.
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China celebrates historic success at World Breaking Championships
cgtn.com
