Britain dethrones Switzerland for tug of war gold at World Games

CHENGDU, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The three-day tug of war competitions of The World Games 2025 kicked off here Saturday, with Britain's men's 640kg team clinching gold after a dominant performance against reigning champion Switzerland, with Germany taking home the bronze medal.

The tug of war event features three categories: men's 640kg, women's 500kg and mixed 580kg. 18 teams, each consisting of eight athletes, are participating in the Games.

In the morning's round-robin qualifying rounds, Germany, Britain, Switzerland and Belgium secured the top four spots with 11, 9, 7, and 7 points respectively to advance to the semifinals, where Switzerland defeated Germany and Britain overcame Belgium to set up a gold-medal showdown between the two powerhouses.

In the final, Britain was in formidable form to secure a convincing 3-0 victory over Switzerland. Germany defeated Belgium 2-1 to get the bronze medal.

Tug of war has been an official event at the World Games since its inaugural edition in 1981. Several athletes praised the organization and venue conditions of the Chengdu World Games, calling it an excellent opportunity to promote the development of the sport.

Shaw Gaz, a bricklayer and a member of the gold-winning British team, said the victory was a testament to a year of hard training that included cycling and weighted runs.

"In the second pull of the final against Switzerland, I thought we might lose because they were so strong, but I told myself to hang in there and give it everything," said Gaz, who has won three championships in Europe.

Germany head coach Stefan Heimann noted the wide age range of his athletes, from those born in the 1980s to the 2000s.

"Our training schedule has to accommodate everyone's different situations, but it's very interesting because we are all united by our shared love for the sport," he said.

A heartwarming moment took place during a break in the matches when the organizers and spectators surprised Dutch athlete Vincent Wagenmans with a birthday celebration. Wagenmans, who turned 48, was presented with the World Games mascots "Shu Bao" and "Jin Zai" while the crowd sang Happy Birthday, leaving him visibly moved. ■