February 27, 2025, IWUF announced winners of 2024 Athlete of the Year Selection. The final selection for the men's Wushu Taolu Rising Star of the Year was between Singaporean athlete Xin Yun Chua and Brunei athlete Abel Wee Yuen Lim. After a month of public voting, Xin Yun Chua won the Men's Wushu Taolu Rising Star of the Year 2024 award with 31,182 votes.
Xin Yun Chua started practicing wushu at the age of 9, entered the Singapore National Team in 2019, and has been in the National Team ever since. He won a bronze and a silver medal, in jianshu and changquan respectively, at the 8th World Junior Wushu Championships in 2022, a gold medal in jianshu at the 11th Asian Junior Wushu Championships, and a silver in qiangshu and a gold in jianshu at the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships in 2024. He also took a bronze medal in jianshu and a silver medal in qiangshu at the 2024 International Wushu Invitational Tournament.
His federation in Singapore writes, “Xin Yun is a highly deserving athlete thanks to his
exceptional performance and exemplary character throughout 2024. He has excelled at prestigious competitions such as the International Wushu Invitational Tournament and the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships, showcasing his outstanding talent and dedication to the sport. Xin Yun’s commitment to wushu is unwavering, and those who have worked with him have witnessed his growth into the remarkable athlete he is today. Beyond his athletic achievements, he is a well-mannered and respectful individual, earning admiration from his coaches and team managers for his reliability and humility. Xin Yun consistently strives for improvement, balancing his demanding training schedule with academic excellence. He is not just a remarkable sportsman but also a standout student. Additionally, his leadership qualities shine as he mentors and supports less experienced peers during competitions, reflecting his maturity and team spirit.”
1.How do you feel about your recognition as the IWUF Wushu Taolu Rising Star of the Year, and your popularity with a global audience?
Xin Yun: I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the recognition as the IWUF Wushu Taolu Rising Star of the Year. This achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering guidance of my coaches and the dedication and support from my parents, allowing me to strive for excellence in the sport. It is also overwhelming and deeply encouraging to know that people from around the world appreciate my performance. This will motivate me to continue improving and sharing my passion for wushu. I am truly thankful to the Singapore Wushu Federation for the nomination and IWUF for this opportunity. I will strive to honor this recognition by continuing to grow and contribute to the sport.
2.How did it feel to win a gold and a silver medal at the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships, and 2 medals at the International Invitational Wushu Tournament -- and how do you think it helped you win this award of Wushu Taolu Rising Star of the Year?
Xin Yun: Competing at the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships and the International Invitational Wushu Tournament was an eye-opening and inspiring experience. Winning a gold and a silver medal at the World Junior Championships, as well as two medals at the International Invitational Tournament, is something I am deeply proud of, but I see these achievements as foundational steps rather than the ultimate goal. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering guidance of my coaches and the endless support of my parents. These competitions taught me the value of perseverance and mental strength. I believe these experiences played a significant role in earning the Wushu Taolu Rising Star of the Year award, as they pushed me to new heights and deepened my passion for the sport. Moving forward, these achievements will inspire me to work even harder, to keep improving, and continue to pursue Wushu with the same dedication it has brought me this far.
3.How do you hope to help continue to grow wushu’s popularity both in your own country of Singapore, the region of Asia, and globally worldwide? What do you see for the future of the sport of wushu?
Xin Yun: As an athlete, I hope to inspire others by showcasing the beauty and discipline of wushu through my performances. I also want to use my platform to share my journey and the values wushu has taught me—perseverance, respect, and dedication—to encourage more people, especially the younger generation, to take up the sport. Globally, I hope to see wushu continue to gain recognition as a competitive sport and an art form, perhaps even one day becoming part of the Olympic Games. I hope to see more people from diverse backgrounds embracing wushu, and I hope that one day wushu will be recognized on the world’s biggest stages, inspiring generations to come.
4.What are your wushu goals for 2025?
Xin Yun: In 2025, I strive to compete in the upcoming 12th Asian Junior Wushu Championships in China as well as the 17th World Wushu Championships in Brazil.
5.How do you hope to inspire your own generation, and the upcoming next generation of wushu practitioners?
Xin Yun: I hope to inspire my own generation and the next by training hard and maintaining discipline, so that I can lead by example. By sharing my journey—including the challenges I’ve faced and the lessons I’ve learned—I hope to show young practitioners that setbacks are a natural part of growth and that perseverance is the key to success. Wushu has taught me so much more than physical skills; it has taught me discipline, resilience, and respect. I hope to inspire others to embrace these values, not just in their practice but in their everyday lives. I also want to encourage young practitioners to pursue wushu with passion and confidence, regardless of their starting point, because wushu is a sport for everyone.
