HK Couple Wins WDSF World Cup Latin Adult, Outperforming European Rivals
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's premier Latin dance couple has achieved international recognition by securing the gold medal at the World DanceSports Federation (WDSF) World Cup Latin Adult championship held in Chengdu on Saturday. Winson Tam and Anastasia Novikova outperformed 16 competing pairs from around the world, including established dance powerhouses such as Germany, Portugal, Italy, China, Japan, and South Korea. The victory marks their second triumph at the world stage, following their initial breakthrough at the Vietnam championship in July .
Key Points
- The championship demanded excellence across five distinct dance disciplines: Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble, and Jive. Tam and Novikova delivered consistent, world-class performances from the preliminary rounds through to the finals, demonstrating exceptional musicality, body control, and artistic expression .
- The Hong Kong pair accumulated a winning score of 186.3 points to claim the top position on the podium. They narrowly edged out Germany's Artur Balandin and Anna Salita, who earned silver with 183.5 points, while Italy's Eric Testa and Federica Brezzo took bronze with 182 points .
- This victory represents a remarkable journey for Tam, who switched his competitive allegiance from Canada to Hong Kong in 2023. Together with Novikova, the pair has represented the city since 2024 and has now established themselves as a dominant force in international Latin dance competitions .
- Novikova described the achievement as deeply rewarding, noting that winning is never easy but feels equally gratifying with each victory. She emphasised that the success brings a heightened sense of responsibility as ambassadors for Hong Kong on the global stage .
- Tam highlighted that the most fulfilling aspect was showcasing their months of rigorous training and demonstrated growth. Looking ahead, he quipped that his immediate celebration would be a good night's sleep before resuming preparation for upcoming competitions .
Why It Matters
The Hong Kong DanceSport Association has stated that this victory will encourage greater participation in elite international events, boost world ranking points for local athletes, and showcase Hong Kong's competitive strength in professional sports .
The Hong Kong DanceSport Association has stated that this victory will encourage greater participation in elite international events, boost world ranking points for local athletes, and showcase Hong Kong's competitive strength in professional sports .