Chinese chef secures first-ever gold at WorldSkills Competition in France

China

Chinese chef secures first-ever gold at WorldSkills Competition in France

2024-09-22 17:32 Last Updated At：23:47

In a stunning victory at the 47th WorldSkills Competition held recently in Lyon, France, young Chinese chef Kang Bangcheng triumphed over competitors from Europe and America to claim the gold medal in the culinary (Western cuisine) category.

This marks the first time that the Chinese delegation has clinched the gold in this prestigious event.

"I never imagined achieving such a feat on European soil at this program, which many Europeans take pride in. When I stepped onto the podium, it felt like my long pursued dream has come true," said Kang Bangcheng, a teaching assistant from the Ningbo Gulin Vocational High School.

The culinary (Western cuisine) segment of the 47th WorldSkills Competition drew participants from 44 countries, making it the most fiercely contested category in the entire event. Unlike previous editions where the competition topics were revealed three months in advance, this year's challenges were announced just a month and a half prior, leaving contestants with limited time for preparation. Adapting to the local French ingredients also posed a significant challenge.

"Nearly half of the local ingredients differ from those in China, particularly in terms of meats, fish, and ducks. Additionally, the local climate is different. While we trained in China, the temperature was relatively high. But the cooler local environment in France caused plates to cool faster than in China. These were crucial factors we had to consider at that time," said Kang.

The four-day competition entailed assessments of fundamental skills, hot dish culinary skills, cold dishes and pastry skills, and a restaurant practical test. Kang's exceptional prowess shone through as he flawlessly completed tasks like separating egg yolks and whites, hand-whipping egg whites, and precision slicing, ultimately securing the first gold medal in the culinary (Western cuisine) category for the Chinese delegation.

Reflecting on his journey, Kang expressed that bridging the gap between Chinese and Western culinary cultures proved to be his greatest challenge.

"Common spices in Western cuisine like basil, rosemary, and thyme have flavors that are too pronounced, which is actually somewhat contrary to the principles of Chinese cuisine," said Kang.

As he delved deeper into Western cuisine, his culinary skills flourished. However, as he prepared for the competition, Kang faced numerous hurdles, including a lack of psychological readiness.

"After training for two months, I was still consistently running over by 40 minutes. During one training session, I told my coach I don't want to do this anymore. I want to quit," said Kang.

However, his perseverance paid off as he conquered his mental hurdles, secured his spot in the 47th WorldSkills Competition, and emerged victorious as the champion in the culinary (Western cuisine) category.

Looking ahead, Kang expressed his ambition to defend the gold medal for the culinary (Western cuisine) category at the upcoming WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, hoping to keep the prestigious award within China once again.

"I hope that we can defend our champion at the next WorldSkill Competition in Shanghai and keep the gold medal in China," said Kang.

Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran

Some Iranians in Türkiye are crossing back over the border, driven by worry and desperation, as a nationwide communications blackout in Iran has left them cut off from their loved ones.

Protests have erupted in many Iranian cities since Dec. 28. They initially began with Tehran bazaar merchants demonstrating against the sharp devaluation of the national currency rial, and soaring inflation, before spreading to other cities. The unrest has led to casualties among both security forces and civilians.

At the Turkish-Iranian border, many are returning with no certainty about what awaits them, filled instead with questions and growing fear for those on the other side of the border.

"I went to Van yesterday for internet. I urgently needed to use the internet. I got it done. Now I'm heading straight back. There are protests everywhere. We can't get any news. We can't communicate with our families. And it's not just me, there are many Iranians outside the country who can't reach their families," said Feriste, an Iranian citizen.

With communications blacked out across Iran, those outside the country feel powerless to check on the situation back home. For some, this silence has prompted them to return across the border, even as tensions continue to rise.

"We can't get any news. There is no internet. Everything is shut down. I want to search. I want to find out. I want to see my brother. I'm going to see my family," said Husnu, an Iranian citizen.

"I work in Türkiye, and I have no news from Iran at all. I'm going back because I'm worried about my family. It's been days since I last heard from them, and because I'm worried, I'm returning to Iran now. Of course, we are concerned about our safety. We don't know what awaits us there," said another Iranian.

With protests escalating and government blackouts still in place, many Iranians are caught between staying in safety abroad and risking everything to reconnect with their families.

"We had to come to Türkiye because we couldn't reach our families. Schools were closed already. All official institutions were shut down. We have no information about other cities either, because there is no communication network there. There is no television, no internet. We can't even check Twitter," said Nazlican, another Iranian citizen.