NANJING, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- China is aiming to defend its titles at the Trampoline and Tumbling World Championships, which opened Wednesday in Nanjing, marking the first time the country has hosted the sport's premier competition.
"These championships mark the first time that China has hosted the highest-level trampoline gymnastics competition organized by World Gymnastics," said Chang Cheng, chairman of the local organizing committee.
China won its first all-around team title at the 2025 World Championships in Pamplona, Spain, last November. Team manager Zhu Yuehan said the squad would do its utmost to defend its titles on home soil.
Olympic champion Zhu Xueying and world champion Wang Zisai will spearhead China's challenge, although reigning women's trampoline world champion Hu Yicheng will miss the competition for personal reasons.
Zhu Xueying, who won gold at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, is seeking to become the first gymnast to complete a sweep of titles at the Youth Olympics, Olympic Games and World Championships.
A total of 16 titles will be contested over five days, including the two Olympic disciplines of men's and women's individual trampoline, alongside events in synchronized trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline.
The World Championships run from November 4 to 8 and will be followed by the third Trampoline and Tumbling Junior World Championships and the 32nd World Age Group Competitions.
More than 2,000 athletes, coaches and technical officials from over 40 countries and regions have gathered in Nanjing for the 12-day program, with organizers reporting record participation. ■
