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Wang Ji (first from left) and her teammates celebrate after winning the women's kayak four 500m silver at the 2025 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Milan, Italy. [Photo/Tide News]

Wang Ji, an athlete from Xinchang county, Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, won silver in the women's K-4 500 meters at the 2025 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Milan on Aug 25.

She and her teammates finished in 1:32.68, just 0.1 seconds behind the Spanish crew. It was the first time in 30 years that China had returned to the podium in the women's K-4 500 meters at the world championships.

Organized by the International Canoe Federation, the championship gathers top athletes from around the globe. Wang Ji and her teammates demonstrated exceptional teamwork and power with every stroke, securing the runner-up finish.

This achievement is a milestone not only in Wang Ji's career but also for sports development in Xinchang county. She is the second athlete from the county to win a world championship medal, following Pan Dandan.

Born in Xinchang, Wang Ji was selected by coach Zhen Weiming in 2008 for her outstanding physical abilities. Initially chosen for track and field training, she switched to canoeing a year later and quickly rose to prominence, winning numerous national titles.

At the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, Wang Ji excelled in dragon boat events, winning gold in the women's 200-meter, 500-meter, and 1,000-meter straight-course races. She is expected to compete in the National Games in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in November.