Not Yet the Final Stretch — But It’s in Sight: After 24 finals on Tuesday and 21 on Wednesday, Thursday, the 7th day of medal competitions at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, will see no fewer than 35 award ceremonies. Sports fans around the world can follow the action live on the platform. Live.theworldgames.org.
Kickboxing takes centre stage in this rush of medals. The third and final day of competition will crown 12 new champions across in multiple weight classes at Sichuan Gymnasium between 6 and 8 p.m. (local time). Gender equality is a given in this sport — six medal bouts for women, six for men.
Billiards and Sambo will also wrap up. Sambo is making its debut at The World Games this year as a sport one the programme. Armenia debuts as a new country on the TWG map. And there is a connection between these two facts. Armenia has sent six athletes to Chengdu — five of them in Sambo. (Their compatriot Narek Khachikyan placed fifth in Muaythai earlier in the week.) On Thursday, Armenia has a real chance to win its first-ever medals at The World Games. Fingers crossed for the newcomers from 7 p.m. on when the final bouts start at Jianyang Cultural and Sports Centre Gymnasium.
Before the last Billiards matches at TWG 2025, there are a few compelling stories to tell. In snooker, another nation is guaranteed its first medal in TWG history: Cyprus. Michael Georgiou, a London-born former professional who turned his focus to the amateur circuit and won the Amateur World Championship last year, now represents his heritage country. He will face China’s Xiao Guodong in the final at the Civil Aviation Flight University of China Tianfu Campus Gymnasium.
Two more potential “firsts” come from pool and heyball. Peruvian Gerson Martinez has reached the pool final against Oliver Szolnoki of Hungary. A win would make him not only the first Peruvian to take gold in cue sports but also the first South American to do so. His odds are better than slim — in the semi-final he upset reigning champion Joshua Filler of Germany.
In heyball, South Africa’s Jason Theron shocked a home crowd by defeating his Chinese opponent in the semi-final. He will face Zhang Taiyi of China on Friday at 4 p.m., aiming for Africa’s first gold medal in TWG history. Heyball is hugely popular in China, and the host nation will be hoping to hear its anthem at the ceremony. Billard medals matches from 10 a.m. on at Civil Aviation Flight University of China Tianfu Campus Gymnasium.
As Kickboxing, Sambo, and Billiards bow out, new sports take their place. Boules begins at 9 a.m. at the Chengdu Sport University Sancha Lake Campus, with qualification rounds in lyonnaise and pétanque. Drone racing launches at 9.a.m at Dong’an Lake Sports Park Athletics Field, opening with five qualification rounds. The air sports discipline is young — and so is one of its contenders: China’s Li Tianxing, who turned 13 in May, is the second-youngest participant at these Games.
Sport Climbing starts with its most electrifying event: speed. Athletes race up a 15-metre vertical wall, hitting the finish pad in seconds. The current world record is 4.64 seconds, set in May 2025 by 19-year-old Sam Watson of the USA. He will face Olympic champion Leonardo Veddriq of Indonesia. Blink, and you might miss the whole race at 6:30 p.m. in Tianfu Park.
Powerlifting also opens Thursday strongly, with four medal events. Two legends return to the stage: Japan’s Yukako Fukushima competing in her sixth Games since her debut in Akita 2001, and defending her title with trademark precision and composure. Bear in mind: Yukako Fukushima is 55 years old. Ukraine’s Larysa Soloviova, a five-time participant and ranked the third greatest TWG athlete of all time in 2021 will also enter the stage at Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre Gymnasium. Another standout is Jurins Kengamu. The British lifter’s football dreams ended with injury; knowing nothing about powerlifting — “not even the name” — he walked into a gym and decided to lift heavy weights. Now 36, he competes in the men’s 83 kg class and holds the open total world record at 845 kg. Nicknamed “Da Silverback,” he performs a gorilla pose before every lift. Competition starts at 1:30 p.m..
Another medal events are set for Inline Speed Skating (track, from 8 p.m.) and Duathlon (8 a.m.), while Archery, Canoe Polo, Ultimate Flying Disc, and Racquetball continue.