Taiwanese gymnast Tseng Wei-sheng (曾為聖) secured a gold medal in the men’s vault at the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) World Challenge Cup in Varna, Bulgaria, on Sunday, marking a significant achievement in his competitive career.
The FIG praised Tseng’s performance in a social media post, highlighting his “big delivery” in Varna with a video showcasing one of his high-difficulty somersaults from the finals. The 26-year-old athlete topped the event with an impressive average score of 14.183 points, earning difficulty scores of 5.2 for both of his vaults. His execution scores were 9.033 and 8.933, respectively, reflecting both precision and consistency in his routines.
This victory represents Tseng’s second career gold medal at a World Challenge Cup event, following his triumph in the men’s vault in Hungary in 2022. His coach, Lin Yu-hsin (林育信), lauded Tseng’s performance, calling it “consistent and excellent,” particularly given the new challenges introduced by the FIG’s updated Code of Points for the 2025-2028 Olympic cycle.
“This was Tseng’s first competition of the year, and he managed to deliver new routines under the stricter rules emphasizing technical presentation and consistency,” Lin said. Under the revised code, vault routines that previously carried a 5.6 difficulty rating have been downgraded to 5.2, raising the bar for execution quality. Despite these adjustments, Tseng maintained world-class difficulty levels in his vaults, demonstrating his adaptability and resilience.
Lin also emphasized the quality of Tseng’s landings, noting that he “barely moved upon landing,” a testament to the gymnast’s hard work and dedicated training. Historically, Tseng has struggled with consistency, often making critical mistakes every two vaults. His last major podium finish was a silver medal at the 2023 Summer World University Games in Chengdu, China.
“As long as he reduces mistakes, his chances of securing more medals will increase,” Lin remarked, expressing optimism about Tseng’s future prospects.
Looking ahead, Tseng plans to concentrate on major upcoming competitions, including the world championships, with his sights firmly set on the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. His recent success in Bulgaria signals strong potential for further accomplishments on the international stage.
The FIG’s new Code of Points, which took effect on January 1, focuses on rewarding technical excellence and performance consistency. In a statement issued in January, FIG clarified that while achieving difficulty remains important, “execution must be on point” for athletes aiming for top scores.
With this gold medal, Tseng Wei-sheng reaffirms his status as one of Taiwan’s leading gymnasts, poised to make further strides in international gymnastics under the sport’s evolving competitive landscape.
Related topics:
- India Surpasses China in Gold Purchases, Buying 51% More in Three Months
- Qilu Bank Enhances Support for Small Businesses with Innovative Financial Tools
- Bitcoin Poised for a Surge Amid Gold’s Delivery Delays, Expert Claims
