In the film “Kung Fu Women’s Soccer” directed by Stephen Chow (Xing Ye), Mainland Chinese actress Dilraba Dilmurat, who portrays the forward “Yu Long,” promoted the new movie on the studio’s Weibo account on the 10th. She shared a video of herself practicing soccer skills, captioning it: “Lift your foot, exert force, get ready, every sprint witnesses the power of training!”
On the 10th, photos of Dilraba Dilmurat undergoing physical training for “Women’s Soccer” were released, showing her effortlessly performing a split on the grass, showcasing her exceptional flexibility and drawing attention from many fans. Additionally, in a video released by the studio, she appeared without makeup, practicing difficult moves such as hanging upside down, aerial shooting, and the “Twelve Route Leg Shooting” which is a high-level martial arts technique combining traditional Chinese martial arts with soccer shooting, characterized by explosive power and stunning visual effects. The original martial arts (Twelve Route Leg/Shaking Legs) is a famous Northern style of Chinese martial arts, known for its leg techniques, speed, and practical close combat skills. Traditional martial arts manuscripts often mention the saying, “Hands are two doors, all relying on legs to strike.”
In “Women’s Soccer,” Dilraba Dilmurat had to incorporate basic martial arts stances into soccer training to showcase difficult moves like hanging upside down and shooting in the air.
Dilraba Dilmurat indicated in a recent interview that after accepting the role in “Women’s Soccer,” she immediately knew that it would be a significant challenge for her acting career. She confessed, “I never thought I would participate in a movie directed by Stephen Chow.” As her character is a female soccer player, despite her slender figure, she took the initiative to inform the director that she would undergo physical training before joining the production, hoping to make every action scene more powerful and closer to a real athlete’s condition.
In addition to intense weight training, Dilraba Dilmurat also took specialized soccer courses, relearning basic skills such as juggling, dribbling, passing, and shooting under the guidance of professional coaches to enhance her physical combat abilities.
The breakthrough in physical fitness has led to a significant transformation in Dilraba Dilmurat’s appearance. She cut her trademark long hair, appeared almost makeup-free on screen, deliberately tanned her skin, aiming to present the look of an athlete who has spent long hours training on the field. From her appearance to demeanor, she strives to make the audience forget about the “star Dilraba Dilmurat” and instead see the number 8 forward “Yu Long” on the soccer field.
According to reports from Mainland media, Dilraba Dilmurat’s transformative performance in “Women’s Soccer” is considered groundbreaking. Through gaining 8 kilograms, reducing body fat to 14%, undergoing three months of intense training, and performing without a body double throughout, she has completely shattered the label of a delicate idol, moving away from her previous slim image. The film’s preview screenings have garnered high praise such as “invincible” and “breakthrough performance,” positioning her as a symbol of transitioning from a “traffic flower vase” to a talented actress.
“Kung Fu Women’s Soccer” is set to be officially released in Mainland China on July 11th. On the night of the 10th, the official trailer was released. In the short clip, in addition to the previously undisclosed main cast featuring Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba Dilmurat, and Zhang Yixing making their first appearances, Hong Kong’s veteran actress Carina Lau, Hong Kong star Alex Fong, and Japanese actor Sato Takeru also made surprise appearances, showcasing an impressive cast lineup.