From April 23-26, 2024, the International Wushu Invitational Tournament, co-hosted by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) and the Chinese Wushu Association, was held at the Pegasus Watertown Cultural and Sports Center in Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China. This tournament was not only a high-level competition in the wushu world, but also a grand gathering for world wushu elites to exchange skills, forge friendships, and promote mutual understanding through wushu.
With the theme "Embracing Diversity, Empowering Wushu," this event attracted nearly 300 wushu elites from five continents. The competition consisted of two categories: taolu and sanda, producing a total of 38 gold medals. After two days of intense competition, the Iranian team led the medal table with 13 gold medals, followed by the Chinese team with 9 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals, securing the second position. The Republic of Korea team claimed the third spot with 4 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals. Notably, the Yemen team also secured a historic gold medal.
Gao Zhidan, President of the International Wushu Federation, Minister of Sport of China and President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, attended the opening ceremony and declared the tournament open. Xu Ying, Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province and Chen Shaojun, Director General of Jiangsu Provincial Sports Bureau attended the opening ceremony. Zhao Jianjun, Mayor of Wuxi Municipal People’s Government, and Zhang Yuping, Chair of the Organizing Committee of the 2024 International Wushu Invitational Tournament, Director General of the Wushu Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, delivered speeches respectively.
Zhao Jianjun extended a warm welcome to athletes, coaches, and referees from around the world, as well as gratitude to all friends who have long cared for and supported the development of sports in Wuxi. He emphasized that the International Wushu Invitational Tournament is a high-level global event in the field of wushu, and he hoped that everyone would uphold the wushu spirit, fight bravely, and demonstrate their skills, styles, and friendship through the competition. As the host city of this event, Wuxi will adhere to the concept of "high standards, high specifications, and high quality" in organizing the event, ensuring its smooth progress through meticulous planning and first-class service. Additionally, Wuxi will actively leverage the effects of the tournament to promote the deep integration of wushu culture into the construction of a sports-strong city, thereby contributing to urban civilization and the physical and mental health of its citizens, continuously enhancing their sense of fulfillment and the city's reputation.
Wushu originated in China and belongs to the world, serving as a treasure of human civilization. This competition marks Wuxi's first hosting of a major international wushu event. The Pegasus Watertown Cultural and Sports Center, where the competition took place, is the largest wushu-themed sports center in China. Located in the core area of Pegasus Watertown in Xinqiao, designated as a "National Sports Tourism Demonstration," the center is equipped with comprehensive and professional facilities including athlete resting areas, medical facilities, and a press center, ensuring the smooth progress of the competition and timely dissemination of information.
The successful hosting of this event will further enhance the influence of international wushu competitions, showcasing the charm and essence of wushu culture, expanding the depth and breadth of wushu culture, injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of wushu, and promoting the deep integration of national fitness and public health. In the future, with the hosting of more similar events, the Pegasus Watertown Cultural and Sports Center is expected to become an important platform for sports and cultural exchanges worldwide, making greater contributions to the development of wushu and sports culture.
