Guangxi’s own Lu Chuntao made waves on the opening day of the 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities of China by clinching the gold in the women’s 60-meter single bamboo drifting race. This victory marks her first win in the 60m event, completing her triumphant sweep across all women’s single bamboo drifting distances.
“I’m from the Zhuang ethnic group and I’m very happy that I can finally win in all three women’s events of this sport in the Games,” Lu shared with pride. “I’ve achieved my goal this time. I think the beauty of the sport is that it showcases the athlete’s power and balance on the bamboo.”
Single bamboo drifting, once a means of transportation originating from northern Guizhou province, has evolved into a thrilling sport after being listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2021. Athletes stand on sleek bamboo poles, racing at high speeds over water, relying on balance and strength to stay afloat.
“This sport requires a lot physically from the athletes,” Lu explained. “The technique is to use the interaction force between the bamboo pole and water to find balance. But how to race faster depends on the athlete’s physical strength.”
Even seasoned athletes find the sport challenging due to the multitasking involved. “The most difficult thing is multitasking, as you need to keep your balance standing up, while keeping your direction, and at the same time speeding up. So it’s not an easy task to accomplish, and we fall down quite frequently,” Lu admitted.
Guangxi also celebrated a win in the men’s 60m race, with Wei Bingyue taking the title. The successes highlight the province’s strength in this unique sport that blends cultural heritage with athletic prowess.
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Guangxi's Lu Chuntao wins women's 60m single bamboo drifting race
cgtn.com
