The China Mermaid Open Grand Final, held in conjunction with the inaugural Asian Cup, made a splash on Wednesday in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province.
This landmark event marks a significant milestone in the world of water sports, blending cultural storytelling with athletic excellence. Guo Ke, a trailblazing mermaid athlete from China, shared his excitement with CGTN Sports Scene's Shen Xiang. Guo, one of the few male mermaid performers in China, will perform a routine inspired by the classic Chinese tale, 'The Monkey King Wreaks Havoc in Heaven'.
\"When I first got into this sport, there were hardly any male mermaid performers in China,\" Guo said. \"I wondered if men could also wear mermaid tails underwater and showcase powerful movements. I've been involved in this sport for about seven years now. I'd like to give everyone a sneak peek at my routine for this competition. It's 'The Monkey King Wreaks Havoc in Heaven'. Some of the moves are inspired by the Monkey King's character, such as transforming the golden staff. These are high-difficulty moves that require a lot of repetition during training. I hope to present my best self to the audience and also hope that Team China can win the title.\"
The Asian Cup, the first-ever competition of its kind in Asia, represents a convergence of cultural exchange and athletic prowess. It brings together top talents from countries and regions including China, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia. Sera Hong, who finished third at the 2023 China Mermaid Open Championship, is gearing up for this year's contest.
\"It has been two years already since I started Mermaid,\" Sera said. \"Actually, I saw a mermaid show in the aquarium and was really inspired by it. I felt I wanted to do this. It's already the third time for me to join this competition. I feel every competition helps me develop myself.\"
Behind the scenes, Heidi Perez Cao Jorge Ova credits the success of the event to the diligent efforts of the China Water Sports Administration and the government of Sanya. She believes that such events will boost water sports in general and promote related activities.
\"These types of events create a lot of awareness around the water sports world, diving, and all different aquatic sports and related activities,\" she noted. \"Sanya is a great venue because it has a favorable climate all year round. The surrounding sea allows us to host these types of events year-round, as I mentioned before. Hosting this competition in the middle of December is a testament to that. These events significantly raise awareness and support the growth of water sports and related activities.\"
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
