At the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, Sichuan province, which concluded on Aug 17, China's powerboating team delivered its best-ever performance, winning two silver medals and one bronze, with contributions from two athletes from Jinhua, Zhejiang province.

Three elite competitors from Jinhua represented Team China: Feng Zhanghao, Gao Jiayin, and Li Zimeng. Gao secured silver in the women's individual event, Li came 12th, while Feng claimed men's individual bronze.

Gao Jiayin (left) secures silver in the women's individual event. [Photo/Tide News]

"This medal didn't come easily because we only had the experience of two international competitions before," said Gao. Meanwhile, Feng celebrated breaking the Czech dominance in the sport. "This is just the beginning for us; gold is within reach as we keep improving," he added.

Feng Zhanghao (right) claims the men's individual bronze in powerboating. [Photo/Tide News]

Originating in the Czech Republic before arriving in China in 2014, powerboating uses carbon-fiber surfboards powered by emission-free fuel and requires split-second judgment and courage. It became an official event of the World Games for the first time at the Chengdu World Games.

Founded in 2020, the Jinhua powerboating team has demonstrated its strength domestically by sweeping all eight gold medals at the 17th Games of Zhejiang Province and topping the gold medal tally for three consecutive years at the National Championships.

At the 2024 Powerboating World Championship, Zheng Jinghao from Jinhua won the runner-up position in the junior boys' category, becoming the first Chinese athlete to stand on the podium at the Powerboating World Championship.