China's Ma Yigu celebrates winning the men's 60kg final of Sanda at the World University Games in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, August 3 2023. /CFP
China's wushu athletes had an exceptional showing on Day 6 of the Chengdu FISU World University Games, earning four gold medals in Sanda (Free-Fighting Competition) and solidifying the hosts' position at the top of the medal table.
Amidst the thunderous cheers of the home crowd, Li Zhiqin, a student from Beijing Sport University, effortlessly emerged victorious in the women's 60kg final. "Well, today's performance deserves a 9 out of 10 in my opinion," beamed Li, who has been training in wushu for over a decade. "My opponent put up a good fight, but I managed to outshine them with my great mindset and steady nerves, securing the win as expected."
"It was an incredible moment for me as my friends came to cheer me on, waving banners and shouting words of encouragement from the stands," she added. "With the competition over now, I'm looking forward to indulging in some hot pot and perhaps catching a glimpse of the magnificent giant pandas."
China's Li Zhiqin has her hand raised in victory after winning the women's 60kg final of Sanda at the World University Games in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, August 3 2023. /CFP
Ma Yigu, representing Chengdu Sport University, kept the ball rolling for China by coming out on top in the men's 60kg final. "Wushu has truly transformed my life in ways I could have never imagined," Ma told reporters. "Without it, I may have still been living in my village in the mountains."
"I started learning wushu at the age of 9, and it has been a challenging journey filled with blood, sweat, and tears. But being able to persist through all the obstacles and stand on the highest podium at the World University Games makes it all worth it."
Ma's classmate He Feng also lived up to the expectations and won the men's 70kg title in ruthless fashion. "For me, every game is a challenge, and the key to victory is to remain calm on the carpet," observed Ma after the awarding ceremony.
"I would give myself a perfect score of 100 for today's performance. I want to express my gratitude to my coach, my teachers, and the cheering crowd for their unwavering support. Now, I will put all my efforts into preparing for the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games."
China's Liu Wenlong (blue) in action during the men's 80kg final of Sanda at the World University Games in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, August 3 2023. /CFP
In the final wushu competition, Liu Wenlong of Henan University capped off the night with another gold, this time in the men's 80kg. During the intense event, Liu utilized his strength advantage to repeatedly throw his Iranian opponent to the ground, earning deafening applause from the spectators.
"My opponent was incredibly tough, and Iranian athletes are renowned for their formidable strength," reflected Liu after his triumph. "However, I was determined to prove myself. After executing the first throw, I quickly realized that my opponent wasn't as strong as I had anticipated. So, I seized the opportunity and completed the second throw with ease.
"Admittedly, there was immense pressure before the match. Still, I believe that without pressure, there can be no motivation. During my training, I frequently gave myself positive affirmations, boosting my confidence and reminding myself that I could achieve anything I set my mind to."
With 15 years of wushu training under his belt, Liu added that this was his first time participating in a world-class tournament, and this gold medal held immense significance for him. Over the years, he has witnessed an increasing number of foreigners falling in love with Chinese martial arts, and the level of foreign athletes is also getting higher and higher.
China's Liu Wenlong roars in delight after winning the men's 80kg final of Sanda at the World University Games in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, August 3 2023. /CFP
This year's Chengdu Universiade features a total of six Sanda disciplines, and China competed in four of these events, securing a clean sweep of all the gold medals. "Despite the increasing strength of our opponents, our athletes have shown remarkable prowess, embodying the essence of Chinese Sanda," noted Team China's coach Li Jie.
"This competition has made it clear to me that the future of Chinese Sanda lies in an offensive approach. It is not enough to engage in hit-and-run tactics... We must strive to address our weaknesses and not rely solely on hit-and-run. If we continue down that path, Chinese Sanda will have little hope for progress."