On August 14, at the 2025 Chengdu World Games Women's Speed Climbing Individual Finals, Chinese athlete Deng Lijuan, a 2021 undergraduate student from the College of Management at Donghua university, secured the gold medal with an outstanding time of 6.40 seconds, outperforming her competitors. This marks the 24th gold medal won by the Chinese team at the Chengdu World Games.
The finals featured a high-level ‘Chinese derby,’ with Deng Lijuan competing against her national team teammates Qin Yumei and Zhou Yafei. After an intense battle, Deng Lijuan demonstrated precise technical execution and exceptional explosiveness to touch the top first with a time of 6.40 seconds. Qin Yumei claimed silver by a mere 0.01-second margin (6.41 seconds), while Zhou Yafei secured the bronze. The three Chinese athletes swept all medals in the event, showcasing China's formidable strength and depth of talent in women's speed climbing.
In the preliminary round held earlier, Deng Lijuan delivered a steady performance, securing fourth place to advance to the knockout stage. Throughout the subsequent elimination rounds, she maintained her strong competitive form, overcoming all challenges to successfully reach the finals.
As a core member of China's women's speed climbing team, Deng Lijuan boasts an impressive record. Not only did she win silver in this event at the Paris Olympics, but she has also claimed multiple stage victories in the IFSC Climbing World Cup series, establishing herself as one of the world's top athletes in the discipline. Her gold medal at the Chengdu World Games once again demonstrates her consistent high-level performance and formidable mental fortitude.
It is reported that the school has long been committed to cultivating high-level athletes, providing them with quality academic support while they pursue their competitive dreams. Deng Lijuan has not only achieved remarkable success on the athletic field but also demonstrated proactive dedication to her studies. She will commence her graduate studies at Donghua University this September, pursuing parallel development in both her rock climbing career and academic advancement. Deng Lijuan's outstanding performance has brought honor to the nation and added luster to the university.
