China’s 16-year-old breakdancing sensation Guo Pu, known on stage as B-Girl Royal, made history over the weekend at the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Asian Breaking Championships in Shanghai Municipality. She clinched both the youth and adult titles in a stunning display of skill and creativity.
Guo impressed audiences and judges alike with her clean execution, musicality, and commanding stage presence. In the women’s adult division, she overcame her compatriot and Paris Olympics bronze medalist Liu Qingyi (B-Girl 671) in the semifinals before defeating Japan’s Riko Tsuhako (B-Girl Riko) in the final.
“Today’s battles were even tougher than yesterday,” Guo shared after her victory. “But I danced for myself this time. I was relaxed, happy, and focused on expressing who I am. I hope I can represent my country more on the international stage in the future.”
Guo’s achievements have solidified her status as a breakout star in the post-Olympic era. On Saturday, she secured the women’s youth title, earning a unanimous decision from the judges against Japan’s Hiyo Yamada (B-Girl Hiyo).
In the men’s division, Japan’s Shigeyuki Nakarai, known as B-Boy Shigekix, lived up to expectations by claiming top honors. He showcased consistent performances throughout the knockout rounds, defeating China’s Wang Ruimiao (B-Boy MonkeyZ) in the semifinals and Qi Xiangyu (B-Boy Lithe-ing) in the final.
“The score may seem one-sided, but both matches were really tough,” Nakarai commented. “Chinese B-Boys have improved tremendously in recent years. Competing with them pushes me as well—we are not only opponents but also collaborators who grow together through battle.”
The championships highlighted an intense rivalry between China and Japan, with all eight semifinalists in both men’s and women’s brackets hailing from the two countries. The event underscored the rising talent in Asian breakdancing ahead of its debut at the Paris Olympics.
After narrowly missing out on gold, China’s Qi Xiangyu reflected on his performance. “I came here aiming for the title, so I felt the pressure every round,” he said. “In the final, I could feel the gap in speed, power, precision, and clarity of execution. These are the areas I need to focus on moving forward.”
