Jinan athlete claims tai chi all-round gold at 15th National Games

Jinan athlete Liu Dewen snatched the gold medal in the taijiquan (tai chi) and taijijian (tai chi straight sword) at the 15th National Games on Nov 8. This marks Shandong province's first medal in wushu taolu (Routines Competition) at this year's Games, as well as the province's first-ever gold in the tai chi all-round event.

Another Jinan athlete, Ji Hao, claimed the bronze medal in the same event, highlighting the city's strong performance in wushu.

Jinan's Liu Dewen demonstrates his skills in the taijiquan (tai chi) and taijijian (tai chi straight sword) at the 15th National Games. [Photo/WeChat account: Jinan Municipal Bureau of Sports]

Liu, who began professional wushu training at the age of seven, joined the Shandong team at 12. He has delivered outstanding performances in numerous national and international competitions. In 2018, he won the gold medal in Men's Optional Taijiquan at the World Taijiquan Championships, and in May this year, he secured first place in the qualification round for the National Games.

The gold medal is the third won by Jinan athletes at the Games so far. A total of 177 athletes representing Jinan will compete in the finals, setting a new record for the city's delegation. The 15th National Games are being held in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from Nov 9 to 21.

（chinadaily.com.cn）