From July 8 to July 13, the 4th Chinese University Taiji Push Hands Championship was grandly held in the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Zone in Jiangsu Province. Organized by the Chinese Students Sports Federation and co-hosted by the Nantong Sports Bureau, the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee, and the College of Physical Education at Nantong University, the event lasted for five days. More than 500 athletes from 107 teams representing 66 universities across the country competed in various events such as practical Taiji push hands, the display of non-heritage Taiji projects, paired push hands, and team competitions, fully showcasing the highest level of contemporary Chinese university martial arts and Taiji push hands. Under the guidance of coaches Wen Hong and Xin Chenxi, our university's martial arts team sent its first participants from the Class of 2023 Accounting Department, Chen Yiling and Wang Yujie, to compete fiercely in three major categories and seven sub-events in the Women's A group, achieving excellent results with 1 gold, 2 bronze, 1 fourth place, 1 fifth place, and 1 sixth place.
Non-Heritage Showcase: A Glorious Legacy of a Thousand Years.
During the championship, the display of non-heritage projects became a beautiful highlight. Young talents from universities across the country used their fists and feet as brushes, and the competition venue served as their canvas, collectively writing a brilliant chapter of Taiji, a traditional martial art of the Chinese nation.
In the first event, the A group Dragon-Snake Form Taiji competition, our university’s contestant Wang Yujie secured third place with her fluid movements and precise techniques. In the subsequent Wu-style Taiji competition, competitors faced even more intense challenges. Our student Chen Yiling, undaunted by strong contenders, performed steadily to win first place in this event. Wang Yujie also performed admirably, finishing in fifth place. Finally, in the Yang-style Taiji competition, Chen Yiling maintained her excellent competitive state, achieving fourth place with her steady steps and graceful movements.
Practical Competition: A Clash of Strength and Wisdom
The Taiji push hands practical competition was filled with tension and excitement. Contestants faced off in head-to-head matches, engaging in a battle of strength and wisdom. Each move—peng, lu, ji, an; cai, liao, zhou, kao—was executed with precision and power, sending waves of excitement through the audience. Here, we witnessed the power of youth and felt the charm of Taiji push hands. In this competition, our student Chen Yiling stood out, confidently facing strong opponents. She earned third place in the Women's A group practical push hands for the 54 kg category, bringing honor to our school.
Paired Push Hands: Harmonious Cooperation, Achieving Great Results
The paired dynamic push hands routine emphasized the mutual understanding and cooperation between contestants. It not only embodied the ''harmony'' culture within Taiji but also showcased the spirit of teamwork and collective progress among university students. It is worth noting that due to last-minute changes in participants, our two athletes had only one week to train together. Nevertheless, they achieved an impressive sixth place out of 12 competing teams, showcasing their strong cooperation and skilled techniques on the competition stage.
After intense competition, the moment the athletes donned their medals, their feelings of pride and joy were immeasurable. This recognition was not only a testament to the athletes' hard work but also a culmination of coaches' dedication and the selfless contributions of training partners. Special thanks go to the members of the martial arts team who acted as training partners during the training period, especially Huang Ruiqi from the School of Accountancy and Li Jinming, a graduate student from the College of Business. Thanks to everyone's support and dedication, we achieved the success and honors of today.
