Ten of the 16 sports on Friday’s programme will merely set the stage for the weekend’s medal showdowns. Among them is Racquetball, where Paola Longoria faces a decisive hurdle on her path to history: the semi-final at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre Public Fitness Gymnasium (competition starts at 12 p.m.; Longoria plays at 2 p.m.). On Saturday, the 36-year-old Mexican star could capture her fourth consecutive World Games title—something no woman has ever achieved.
In Canoe Polo, the quarter-finals take centre stage. Iran’s team, making its debut at The World Games, is the underdog against Italy and may bow out after this round. Hosts China, also newcomers in this discipline, face an even steeper challenge: a clash with co-favourites the Netherlands. For the German women, silver medallists in Birmingham 2022, the real test begins in the quarters against Denmark. Fortunately, they have nothing to fear from defending champions France. The squad failed to qualify for Chengdu.
Drone Racing could deliver an upset. Defending champion Kilian Rousseau from France found himself outpaced by four competitors in Thursday’s heats, including 17-year-old Korean prodigy Minyae Kim. He is the reigning junior world champion. Encouraged by his mother to take up the sport, Kim has quickly proven her instincts right. On Friday, the 32 starters will be cut in half; the survivors will battle for the title on Saturday evening at 8:10 p.m.
A brand-new sport makes its World Games debut on Friday evening: Cheerleading. The Pom Doubles competition kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at the Dong’an Lake Sports Park Multi-Function Gymnasium, with host China fielding two pairs sure to be cheered by the crowd.
Beach Korfball will also make its first appearance. Over three days, the Xinglong Lake Beach Arena will host high-speed games, spectacular goals, and the crowning of the sport’s first-ever World Games champions. The Dutch arrive as world number one favourites in a tournament featuring eight teams. Starts at 2 p.m.
Another newcomer is Powerboating—specifically, Motosurf racing. Imagine balancing on a surfboard at speeds of up to 60 km/h, carving tight turns around buoys while dodging waves and spray from rivals. Agility, precision, and quick reflexes are key, with the action made all the more intense by fierce on-water rivalries. In a nod to sustainability, women’s and men’s events use biofuel-powered engines, while team races feature fully electric boards. Races starts at 11 a.m. on Sancha Lake.
There’s another first timer. But one with a twist: Benin. Marcel Gbetable represents his country which is for the first time at TWG. He once dreamed of being a football goalkeeper, but when his club doubted him he chose Boules as his new sport. His parents dismissed pétanque as “only for delinquents,” he proved them very wrong. In Thursday’s Boules precision competition, he scored 46 points to place second and move within reach of the podium. On Friday, with partner Alassane Sambo, he will try to qualify for the Mixed Pétanque Classic semi-finals (from 9 a.m. at Chengdu Sport University Sancha Lake Campus Boules Sports Court).
Finally, something about repetition: In Aerobics, Brazil’s Lucas Barbosa and Silka Tamires aim to defend the Mixed Pair title they won in 2022. The final begins at 7 p.m. at the Dong’an Lake Sports Park Multi-Function Gymnasium.
Friday’s medal events include also:
- Duathlon (Women’s Individual, from 8 a.m.)
- Speed Skating Track (Women’s Sprint 1000m, 12 p.m.)
- Powerlifting Heavyweight and Super Heavyweight (1 p.m.)
- Speed Climbing (Women’s final 6:34 p.m., Men’s final 6:37 p.m.)
The full daily schedule is available at: www.theworldgames.org/editions/Chengdu-CHN-2025-14/infosystem