Three days in and we are already into the high-octane nature of The World Games Chengdu 2025.
Eight sports divided 29 medals today across the Sichuan city with hosts China thrilled to see another Wushu star in Gao Zhiushang get the nation’s second gold of the event following Lu Zhuoling last night.
New Dragon-Boat Open 8-seater team for The World Games Myanmar also sealed their first podium finish and in non-medal action, Brazil stunned Germany in one of the men’s preliminary Fistball matches 3-1.
The shock comes from the fact that Germany have won gold in the last four editions of The World Games.
Archery
On the brink of silver, Andrea Maya Becerra Arizaga clutched victory from the jaws of defeat in the compound women’s gold medal match.
Although conditions were less unbearably stuffy - like the rest of the week at Qinglong Lake Park - the world number two landed her third arrow in the 8-ring, giving Lisell Jaatma a head start before the Estonian collapsed in the fourth of five ends, shooting three nines. Becerra – a winner of two World Cups in 2025 – seized the opportunity, dropping a perfect 30 in the final set.
“When it went (arrow in the 8) I was really surprised but I just changed the arrow, changed my mindset, hoping for the best, that was really it,” chuckled the Mexican.
Parenthood seemingly hasn’t affected compound men’s world number one Mike Schloesser as the new father - whose child travelled to Chengdu with wife and recurve archer Gaby – defeated Curtis Broadnax to claim his first gold in The World Games.
Canoe
Indonesia powered its way to gold in the Open 8-seater 2000 m dragon-boat pursuit, commanding the Chengdu waters in 9:08.12—marking a landmark moment as dragon-boat makes its debut as an official sport at The World Games.
It was only an invitational discipline in The World Games 2005 and 2009.
Sweden’s Melina Andersson claimed the women’s Marathon K1 short distance title in 15:20.64—her win here the latest chapter in a scintillating vein of form from the past year that saw her win the 2024 Worlds, despite breaking her paddle and relying on a spare.
In a battle of milliseconds, Denmark’s Mads Brandt Pedersen seized men’s K1 short-distance gold in 13:45.46, just pipping South Africa’s Hamish Lovemore. Pedersen, already a World and European champion, now adds another jewel to a sparkling career.
DanceSport
At Chengbei Gymnasium today, Alexey Glukhov and Anastasia Glazunova of Moldova glided to gold in the Standard Final (196.58) in what was another major honour on their record that builds on their crowning as WDSF European Standard Champions last year.
Close on their heels were one of the two Romanian pairs Rares Cojoc & Andrea Matei, dominant figures on the Grand Slam circuit and top-ranked amateurs, claimed silver with a total of 193 points.
Poland’s Dariusz Mycka and Madara Freiberga, fresh from a bronze at the 2025 European Championships, sealed the podium with bronze (188.04).
Gymnastics
China's Women's Group—Gu Quanjia, Ding Wenyan, and Ma Yixing—captured gold in acrobatic gymnastics with a flawless performance.
In the men's pairs final, Spain's duo clinched gold, while Azerbaijan and Portugal secured silver and bronze, respectively.
Brent Deklerck of Belgium soared to victory in the men's double mini-trampoline, edging out Omo Aikeremiokha of Britain and Gavin Dodd of Canada, each displaying remarkable aerial prowess.
In the women's tumbling final, Megan Kealy of Great Britain led the field, with Candy Brière-Vetillard of France and Alexandra Efraimoglou of Greece following closely, their routines a blend of power and precision.
Karate
On home soil, Gong Li claimed gold in Women’s Kumite −61 kg with a resolute 5–1 win over Japan’s Sarara Shimada—her victory another jewel in a career that includes Olympic bronze and world titles.
Enzo Berthon nabbed the -75 kg gold with a 3–1 victory over Japan’s Yusei Sakiyama.
In Women’s Kumite −68 kg, veteran Swiss star Elena Quirici, a multiple European champion and Olympian, swept past world-class Irina Zaretska of Azerbaijan by 3–0—proof that experience still reigns supreme.
Life Saving
The final Life Saving races saw Germany’s Nina Holt glided to gold in the Women’s 50 m Manikin Carry and again in the 100 m Rescue Medley, smashing a world record of 1:03.69 and extending her perfect podium of The World Games run to nine medals from nine events.
New Zealand’s Fergus Eadie seized Men’s 50 m Manikin Carry gold, his smooth speed earning him a standout win in a fiercely competitive field.
In relays, Germany’s women captured the 4×25 m Manikin Relay – the latter another world record and Holt’s second in Chengdu - while Italy’s men powered to relay supremacy, exemplifying teamwork turned poetic.
Francesco Ippolito was a part of that Men 4x25 m Manikin Relay team gold taking his total of medals achieved at The World Games to 10, now on par with the legendary French life saver Magali Rousseau – the most decorated woman athlete across all sports.
Tug of War
On the grass of Dong’an Lake Sport Park, Great Britain’s men stood unwavering as they claimed gold in the 640 kg outdoor Tug of War final, defeating Switzerland with a commanding 3–0 pull.
It was no surprising these two were in the gold medal match, what was eye catching was the margin considering both nations have been neck-and neck in the top two for several years.
Germany’s bronze came from a hard-won duel against Belgium emerging victorious through 2–1.
Wushu
Tan Cheong Min made history as the first Malaysia to claim gold in Wushu at The World Games, scoring 19.479 in the Women’s Nanquan-Nandao final—a moment of national pride and personal triumph .
Hong Kong China’s Yeung Chung Hei, already a silver medallist from The World Games Birmingham 2022, returned to Chengdu to clinch gold in the Men’s Taijiquan-Taijijian combined event.
China’s Gao Jiushang dominated the Men’s Changquan-Daoshu-Gunshu combined, topping all three disciplines with a total of 29.393 points, another example of China’s depth of talent in the country’s Wushu roster.
Sham Hui Yu Lydia – also of Hong Kong China - secured gold in the Women’s Changquan-Jianshu-Qiangshu combined with a score of 29.260, marking her first World Games gold.