China’s Ma Yigu clinched his first international multi-sports event gold medal by overpowering Indonesia’s Nada Guitara 2-0 in the men’s Sanda 60kg final of the Wushu event at the Chengdu World University Games. China dominated the Wushu event, securing 11 golds and one bronze out of 20 golds available, while Indonesia showcased their growing enthusiasm for the sport by bagging four golds.
Ma, a 20-year-old from a poverty-stricken family in Longjiagou village, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, expressed how Wushu had transformed his life. He shared that his journey from herding cows and farming in the mountains to becoming a gold medalist demonstrated that anyone could work hard to achieve their dreams. Ma’s love for Wushu stemmed from the traditional sport of the Yi ethnic group, wrestling, which is deeply embedded in their culture.
Despite a challenging start in a local amateur Wushu school, Ma’s determination and hard work led him to be scouted for a prefecture-level Wushu school. His talent was further recognized by the Sichuan provincial team coach during a friendly game in 2015. Ma’s journey continued with a gold at the 2nd National Youth Games in 2019, a recommendation for admission to Chengdu Sport University, and a 5th place finish at the 14th National Games in 2021.
Reflecting on his performance at the Chengdu Universiade, Ma acknowledged his initial nervousness and the importance of staying positive against tough opponents. After a short break, he plans to compete in the national trials in October, with hopes of qualifying for the World Wushu Championships in November.
Ma’s coach, Wang Xiangquan, commended his technical and mental improvement over the years, emphasizing his skills in wrestling, kicking, and counter-attacking. Wang encouraged Ma to stay composed and diversify his offensive strategies for consistent performances.
As the Chengdu Games concluded, the focus shifted to the upcoming World Wushu Championships and the 15th National Games in 2025. The 16th World Wushu Championships, hosted by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) in Texas, USA, will see about 1,000 athletes from over 80 countries participating. IWUF Secretary General Zhang Qiuping expressed excitement for the event, the first highest-level martial arts event post-pandemic, and the inclusion of Wushu in the postponed 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games.
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