Asian Games | China's 15-year-old Zhu wins women's skateboarding street gold

Zhu Yuanling of China competes during the women's street final of skateboarding at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Tokoname of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 27, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Fifteen-year-old Zhu Yuanling of China climbed from fifth in qualifying to win the women's skateboarding street gold with 166.57 points at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Sunday.

Japan's Yumeka Oda took silver with 161.96, while China's Hangzhou Asian Games champion Cui Chenxi earned bronze. World No. 1 Ibuki Matsumoto of Japan finished fifth.

The street final combines each rider's best of three runs and best of three trick attempts for a total score. Zhu posted two 70-plus run scores and led the field after a third run of 79.73.

In the trick phase, top qualifier Oda opened with 90.75 points, the highest single trick score of the competition, briefly moving into first.

Zhu responded with 78.96 and then landed an 86.84 on her second trick attempt, bringing her total to 166.57 and reclaiming the lead she held until the end.

"I'd been practicing that trick in my second run for a long time, and it's one I can usually land, so I didn't feel like I needed to be that nervous," Zhu said. "It's amazing. I still feel a bit dazed. Actually I didn't expect to win gold."

Cui rose from fourth after the run phase to secure bronze with a standout trick performance.

"I didn't expect to land that trick on the first try, since I hadn't even attempted it before the competition," she said. "Once I landed it, I just went with the flow."