The first three Taiwanese torch representatives for the World Masters Games 2025 Taipei & New Taipei City have been announced. In a Monday press release, the executive committee named baseball legend Peng Cheng-min (彭政閔), Olympic boxing gold medalist Lin Yu Ting (林郁婷), and Guinness World Records holder for oldest badminton player Lin Yu-mao (林友茂).
The committee stated that the core spirit of this year’s games is "Sports beyond age! Life without limits!" The three symbolize sports, youth, and inclusion as they carry the torch at the opening ceremony on May 17, igniting the cross-generational sports spirit. All three athletes were honored to be nominated, with the remaining two representatives to be announced in the near future.
Peng, who played for the China Trust Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League, is still committed to promoting baseball and continues to influence the younger generation in his retirement. He said that he is looking forward to being a torchbearer. He hopes his participation can help more people get involved in sports and enjoy a healthy life.
Lin, the young representative who won Taiwan's first gold medal in boxing at the Paris Olympics. She said she hopes to share the passion and positive energy of sports through this opportunity and that athletes from all over the world can see Taiwan through healthy competition.
104-year-old Lin is the oldest Taiwanese participant in the World Masters Games who started playing badminton at the age of 50. He said that being able to attend the opening ceremony of the World Masters Games is a very important milestone in his badminton career. Lin added that he was taken aback to be recommended by the mayors of Taipei and New Taipei City to participate in the games’ badminton exhibition match.
The executive committee revealed that a total of five representatives will light the torch together and welcome the “sun-like flame” that burns like the energy of athletes, symbolizing that life is always full of hope.