The China Mermaid Open Grand Final and the inaugural Asia Cup successfully concluded on Friday at Atlantis Sanya in China's Hainan province. It brought together participants and spectators from across Asia, signaling a new milestone in the development of mermaiding and water sports overall.

The freestyle skills events of the Asian Cup unfolded on Friday, the second day of competition. The Asian Cup champions were decided based on combined results from Thursday's performances. China's Guo Ke claimed the men's singles title with a routine inspired by a classic Chinese tale. His teammate, Huang Xiaoying, finished first in both prescribed skills and freestyle skills to win the women's singles title.

With the event successfully concluded, Heidi Perez Cao Jorge Ova, vice president of Atlantis Sanya, shared her insights with CGTN's Shen Xiang, saying that events like the China Mermaid Open and the Asian Cup will inspire more young people to join the sport.

"We are so glad that this competition has finished successfully today and we have the first Asian Mermaid champion. How exciting is this? We hope that through this competition, more and more young people will be inspired and learn about the sport and join it with the great guide, guidance and professional advice from the government, hard works from both judges and staff. We have the confidence to host more world class competitions in the very near future and we are already planning for it."

After two days of thrilling competition, the 2024 China Mermaid Open and the Asian Cup wrapped up here at Atlantis Sanya in Hainan. Over the past two days, this event has brought together athletes and enthusiasts from across Asia, showcasing not only the artistry and athleticism of mermaiding but also the growing appeal of water sports in the region.