To honor excellent wushu athletes, promote exemplary role models, and inspire wushu talents around the world to contribute to the global development of the sport, the IWUF launched Athlete of the Year Awards in 2022. The selection process for the 2025 Athlete of the Year awards commenced in November of that year and was met with active engagement and strong support from IWUF member associations worldwide. Following a review by the Athletes' Committee, 46 candidates from 23 countries and regions across five continents proceeded to the online public voting phase for the IWUF 2025 Athlete of the Year Awards. After one month of public voting, eight outstanding athletes were finally chosen to receive the distinguished title of the IWUF 2025 Athlete of the Year Awards. The official voting results and the list of awardees are hereby published.
List of Winners: IWUF Athlete of the Year Awards 2025
Note: The number of valid votes is confirmed after the technical review.
For the voting results, please visit the official voting website: https://iwuf.sports.cn/Athlete-of-the-Year-2025/
Following are the winners’ profiles:
IWUF Female Wushu Taolu Athlete of the Year 2025 - Wu Xu (China)
Wu Xu was born in Hebei, China in 1998, and began practicing wushu at the age of 9. She was selected for the Hebei Provincial Wushu Team at 12. In 2021, she won the championship at National Wushu Championships. In 2023, she also claimed the champion title at the National Wushu Champions' Competition. In 2024, she became the champion of the 10th Asian Wushu Championships. In 2025, she won the first Asian Cup and a gold medal in taijiquan at the 17th World Wushu Championships. She also achieved the second place in the women’s all-round event of taijiquan and taijijian at the 15th National Games of the People's Republic of China.
IWUF Male Wushu Taolu Athlete of the Year 2025 - Shahin Banitalebi (Iran)
Shahin Banitalebi has been a member of the Iran Wushu national team since 2013. At the 17th World Wushu Championships he won a bronze medal in nandao, and at The World Games 2025 he placed first in nanquan-nangun combined. Throughout his career, Shahin has consistently showcased his abilities on both the world and Asian stages, earning multiple medals at these prestigious levels. His steady and reliable performances demonstrate his capacity to compete and succeed among the sport's elite. His professionalism, discipline, and relentless dedication to training have also made him an inspiration for younger athletes and a trusted representative of the federation on the international stage.
IWUF Female Wushu Sanda Athlete of the Year 2025 - Tsz Ching Chan (Hong Kong, China )
Tze Ching Chan began to learn wushu when she was six, and became a scholarship athlete at 14 years old. She has won various medals in the Asian Junior Championships, Asian Championships, Sanda Asian Cup, World Championships and Sanda World Cup. Recently this year she won the bronze medal at the 10th Sanda World Cup, in the 56 kg division, and another bronze medal at the 17th World Wushu Championships. As both a talented competitor and a role model for sportsmanship, Chan is a vital force in wushu's evolution in Hong Kong, China.
IWUF Male Wushu Sanda Athlete of the Year 2025- Arsen Baghryan (Armenia)
Arsen Baghryan is considered one of the finest athletes in Armenia, distinguished by both his outstanding physical attributes and exemplary personal qualities. Arsen began training at an early age, and has been an Armenian champion winning numerous national and international competitions. He is highly respected not only in his home country but also on the international stage by both competitors and coaches. Most recently, he won the silver medal in sanda at the 17th World Wushu Championships.
IWUF Female Traditional Wushu Athlete of the Year 2025 - Kai Xin Tay (Singapore)
Kay Xin Tay started with chen style taiji in 2020, studying under teachers from the lineage of Chen Zhenglei. She pactices chen style taijiquan, taijijian, taijishan, and taijiqiang. She has been a member of Singapore traditional wushu elite team overall champion (youth female category) and competed in 3 events in the National Traditional Wushu Championships 2024. Most recently, she won a first prize in the 10th World Kungfu Championships in chen style taijiquan and a second prize in the group weapons routine. She has made significant contributions to the promotion, development, and creative advancement of taijiquan both within the national team and the wider community. She has also been actively involved in promoting taiji to the youth in Singapore, helping to broaden awareness and appreciation of the art among younger generations and ensuring its continued relevance and growth.
IWUF Male Traditional Wushu Athlete of the Year 2025 - Zhang Yongbiao (China)
Yongbiao Zhang studied at Yongcheng Sports School, trained at Shaolin Temple 2004-2006, and joined the National Wushu Training team in 2012. In competitions in Henan province he has won over 50 gold medals. In the National wushu competitions and the 11th National Games of the People's Republic of China, he has won 7 medals. At the National Wushu Taolu Championships of China, he won first place in men's jiujiebian, and also first place in piguaquan. At the 10th World Kungfu Championships, where he was team captain of the men’s team, he won a gold medal in fanziquan with a score of 9.30. Leading all team members to unite as one and charge forward side by side, he became the solid backbone supporting the team in conquering the world wushu arena and securing glory.
IWUF Female Traditional Wushu Rising Star of the Year 2025 - Susie Huang (Hong Kong, China)
Susie Huang began studying wushu in 2014 and joined the Hong Kong, China Wushu Team in 2017. Recently she won two gold medals at the 10th World Kungfu Championships -- one in chaquan and the other in jian. Susie shows true sportsmanship by following the rules, respecting everyone, and embodying the Olympic spirit. She is dedicated to training, always improving, and positively representing wushu. Her honesty on and off the field boosts the sport's integrity. Susie also promotes wushu through events and community service, inspiring youth participation.
IWUF Male Traditional Wushu Rising Star of the Year 2025 - Lin Xu Weng (Singapore)
Lin Xu started learning wushu when he was 6 years old. He is a strong role model who consistently demonstrates a hardworking attitude and discipline in training, excelling in both competitive modern and traditional wushu. His ability to perform well across these areas reflects a well-rounded skill set and a mature understanding of the sport. Despite his young age, Linxu has had a strong and positive influence on a large proportion of the younger competitors in the team. He takes the initiative to guide juniors not only in their learning of wushu techniques, but also in understanding the values and discipline that wushu entails. At the 10th World Kungfu Championships he won a gold medal in nanquan, a second prize medal in double weapon routine, and a second prize medal in group weapon routine.
Thanks to all the IWUF member associations and the worldwide wushu community for following and supporting this selection!
