Roared on by an ardent home crowd, Li Yueyao and her compatriots kick-started China's gold rush in the Sanda events at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Thursday, captivating all with their remarkable displays of dexterity and adroitness. 

Sanda, a contemporary form of unarmed combat, has evolved from the time-honored techniques of Chinese wushu. It predominantly incorporates a repertoire of striking, kicking, grappling, throwing and defensive maneuvers to engage in the exhilarating art of fighting. 

As the reigning champion in the women's 52kg category, Li wasted no time in making her mark in the finals of the event. She swiftly found her groove, demonstrating her immense skill with pinpoint accuracy in her punches, a steady and solid foundation, nimble footwork and cleverly devised strategies. 

In the end, Li lived up to the hype, dominating her Iranian opponent Mansoryan Elaheh with an impressive 2-0 victory, ultimately seizing the crown and securing China's first gold in the Sanda. 

"I'm absolutely thrilled to have clinched the title under immense pressure," beamed the 29-year-old after her triumph.  

"After the previous Asian Games, I had made up my mind to retire. However, the exceptional significance of hosting this edition of the Asian Games on our own turf proved too enticing to resist. Thus, I made the bold decision to give it one final shot.  

"With the postponement of the Games, my preparation rhythm was disrupted, throwing me off balance. However, with the support and assistance of those around me, I managed to find my footing. It was through unwavering belief in myself and the unrelenting pursuit of my goals that I refused to give up.

"After successfully defending my title, I'm determined to push myself even further, bringing honor to my country and continuing to raise our national flag and play our national anthem." 

Later in the day, Wu Xiaowei, Jiang Haidong, Wang Xuetao and He Feng went on to secure victories in their respective Sanda categories: women's 60kg, men's 56kg, men's 60kg and men's 70kg. The sensational winning streak solidified the undisputed power of the Chinese team in the discipline.