Chinese Martial Artist Suffers Broken Cheekbone in Brutal Slapping Contest

On October 31, 2025, a Chinese contestant named Zhao Honggang made headlines after suffering a serious injury during a Power Slap competition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 35-year-old Zhao, who is a ninth-generation successor of the traditional Tongbai Boxing martial art, was competing in the global slapping tournament when he was dealt a devastating blow by his Kazakh opponent, Muhammad Amantaev.

In the third round of the match, Zhao was knocked unconscious after receiving a heavy slap from Amantaev. The event's medical team immediately rushed to Zhao's aid and diagnosed him with a broken cheekbone. They treated the injury with 5 stitches, and subsequent imaging tests confirmed that Zhao had not sustained any brain damage.

Zhao, who has over 1.5 million social media followers for showcasing his impressive kung fu skills, later reassured his fans that he was doing well and thanked them for their support. The Power Slap event, which involves two opponents taking turns slapping each other in the face, has drawn widespread attention and controversy for the extreme physical toll it takes on the participants.