The 4th World Taijiquan Championships officially commenced this evening in Singapore, marking the start of an exciting and prestigious event that has drawn 325 participants from 32 countries and regions across five continents.
The opening ceremony and welcome dinner were attended by Mr. Edwin Tong, Singapore's Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law; Anthony Goh, IWUF Vice President; Sherif Mostafa, IWUF Vice President; Chan Wing Kit, IWUF Vice President; Patrick Van Campenhout, IWUF VicePresident; Zhang Qiuping, IWUF Secretary General ; Mr. Ang Mong Seng, President of the Singapore Wushu Dragon and Lion Dance Federation (SWDLDF); Mr. Kwek Hian Chuan Henry, Vice President of SWDLDF and Member of Parliament for Kebun Barug; Mr. Kelvin Lim Lung Tieng, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee and Chariman of SWDLDF; and other distinguished leaders and guests.
The ceremony began with a spectacular lion dance performance, creating a festive atmosphere. The entrance ceremony was conducted with a sense of dignity and excitement. and representatives of the athletes, judges, and coaches took oaths, demonstrating their commitment to fairness and integrity in the competition. Mr. Kelvin Lim Lung Tieng, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee and President of SWDLDF, and Mr. Anthony Goh, IWUF Vice President, delivered speeches, warmly welcoming Taijiquan masters and enthusiasts from around the world to Singapore to celebrate this grand martial arts event. Following the speeches, members of the IWUF Executive Board and representatives of the organizing committee took the stage to cut a cake, symbolizing their wishes for the event's success. Minister Edwin Tong officially declared the 4th World Taijiquan Championships open.
After the opening ceremony, the welcome dinner and cultural performances began. Renowned wushu master Su Zifang performed a Taiji sword routine, followed by demonstrations of Sun, Wu, Yang, and Chen styles of Taijiquan, showcasing the unique characteristics of each style. The Singapore Youth Wushu Team and Traditional Wushu Team also delivered impressive performances, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The World Taijiquan Championships is one of the six major official events organized by the International Wushu Federation and is a world-class event focused on Taijiquan. It aims to provide a platform for Taijiquan elites from around the world to exchange knowledge and compete.
This year’s championships include two main categories: competition events and demonstration events. The competition events are divided into optional routines, new standardized routines, and compulsory routines. The demonstration events include both compulsory and traditional routines. Both categories cover Sun, Wu, Yang, Chen, and Wu styles of Taijiquan. Notably, wushu will make its debut as an official competition event at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games, featuring Taijiquan All-Around (Taijiquan & Taijishan) events. For the first time, this championship includes optional and compulsory routines for Taijishan.
Over the next four days (August 24-27), Taijiquan athletes from around the world will gather in Singapore to compete. We look forward to this exciting Taijiquan feast!
