Lu Zhuoling Wins Gold, Securing China's First at Chengdu World Games

Lu Zhuoling secured the first gold medal for the Chinese delegation at the Chengdu World Games on Friday. She achieved this victory in the Taijiquan-Taijijian final of the Wushu event. The 21-year-old athlete delivered a fluid and flawless Taijijian routine, earning a total score of 19.522.

The Chengdu Games is significant as it marks the debut of Wushu as an official competition event. China has two athletes participating in this particular event. Prior to Lu Zhuoling's win, Riccardo Rancan of Switzerland claimed the first gold medal of the Games in the men's middle-distance orienteering.

The Games officially began on Thursday with an impressive opening ceremony held in Chengdu, the capital of Southwest China's Sichuan Province. This is the first time the World Games has been hosted in a city on mainland China, with the previous edition in 2009 taking place in Taipei, China's Taiwan region.

The Chengdu World Games encompasses 34 sports, 60 disciplines, and a total of 256 events. China is represented by a delegation of 321 athletes competing in 152 events across 28 sports, representing the nation's largest participation in the history of the Games. This year also sees the inclusion of para-athletes in the Chinese delegation for the first time.

A total of 6,679 participants, including athletes, team officials, and technical staff from 116 countries and regions, are involved in the Games. Of these, 3,942 are athletes, making this the largest edition in the history of the World Games.