In a breathtaking display of skill and artistry, 16-year-old breakdancer Guo Pu—known on stage as B-Girl Royal—dominated both the youth and adult categories at the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Asian Breaking Championship in east China’s Shanghai Municipality.
Over the course of two days, Guo showcased clean execution, musicality, and a commanding stage presence to claim back-to-back crowns. First she outclassed Japan’s Hiyo Yamada in the women’s youth final, earning unanimous decisions across all three rounds. Then in the senior women’s bracket, she defeated Paris Olympics bronze medalist Liu Qingyi (B-Girl 671) in the semifinals before cruising past Japan’s Riko Tsuhako (B-Girl Riko) by a wide margin.
“I felt today’s battles were even tougher than yesterday,” Guo said. “But I truly danced for myself this time. I was relaxed, happy, and focused on expressing who I am. I hope I can represent my country more on the international stage in the future.”
The championship also highlighted an intense China–Japan rivalry: all eight semifinalists in both men’s and women’s divisions hailed from these two nations. In the men’s event, Japan’s Shigeyuki Nakarai—aka B-Boy Shigekix—lived up to his nickname by securing gold with dominant performances. He defeated Wang Ruimiao 3–0 in the semis and Qi Xiangyu 3–0 in the final.
“The score may seem one-sided, but both matches were really tough,” Nakarai reflected. “Chinese B-Boys have improved tremendously in recent years. Competing with them pushes me as well—we are not only opponents, but also collaborators who grow together through battle.”
Despite strong runs from China’s Qi Xiangyu (B-Boy Lithe-ing), Wang Ruimiao (B-Boy MonkeyZ), and Shang Xiaoyu (B-Boy X-rain), Nakarai’s experience from the Hangzhou Asian Games proved decisive. After narrowly missing gold, Qi admitted, “I came here aiming for the title, so I felt the pressure every round. In the final, I could feel the gap in speed, power, precision, and clarity of execution. These are the areas I need to focus on moving forward.”
As breaking cements its post-Olympic momentum, rising stars like B-Girl Royal and B-Boy Shigekix are redefining the sport across Asia—and inspiring a new generation of movers and shakers worldwide.
Reference(s):
Chinese B-Girl Guo Pu sweeps youth and adult Asian breaking titles
cgtn.com
