China celebrated a historic achievement at the World Breaking Championships held in Chengdu on Saturday, securing two medals in the competition. Paris Olympics bronze medalist Liu Qingyi, also known as B-Girl 671, clinched silver in the women's event, while Wang Ruimiao, nicknamed B-Boy Monkey Z, earned bronze, marking the country's first-ever podium finish in the men's division.
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 event served as a stepping stone for competitors, with the winners and runners-up earning direct entry into the 2025 World Games.
Liu Qingyi demonstrated remarkable skill by defeating Lithuania's Dominika Banevich 2-1 to reach the women's final, avenging her previous defeat at the Olympics. In the final against India's Dewi Sardjoe of the Netherlands, Liu introduced several new elements to her performance. Despite these efforts, Sardjoe, who placed fourth at the Paris Games, secured gold with a 2-1 victory in Sichuan Province.
\"My main goal in this competition is to dance happily, while also exploring areas and methods that are not my strength,\" Liu remarked. \"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, Chinese athletes showed strong performances, with two advancing to the last 16. However, Qi Xiangyu, who placed fourth at last season's World Championships, did not make it to the quarterfinals. In contrast, Wang Ruimiao made a standout debut, defeating Ukraine's Oleg Kuznietsov 3-0 to win bronze and secure China's first-ever medal in the men's division.
The championships not only highlighted China's growing prowess in breaking but also set the stage for future competitions, with athletes now looking forward to the 2025 World Games.
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China celebrates historic success at World Breaking Championships
cgtn.com
