Published: Wednesday October 30, 2013 MYT 6:46:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday October 30, 2013 MYT 6:58:10 PM
All systems go for wushu meet in KL
by lim teik huat
The 12th World Wushu Championships logo themed "Wushu for All". The competition, which begins from Friday till Nov 5 at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, will see 80 countries taking part.
KUALA LUMPUR: It’s all systems go for the World Wushu Championships, which will begin at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium in Cheras on Friday.
Malaysia will host the biennial event for the second time but the 12th edition will attract the biggest attendance of wushu enthusiasts.
Malaysia hosted the second edition in Kota Kinabalu in 1993 and Kuala Lumpur is hosting the current edition with the tagline of ‘Wushu for All’.
Tournament chief co-ordinator Desmond Yong Loong Chen said that they were now in the final lap of their preparations to host the biggest wushu meet in the world.
“The meet has garnered worldwide support. Eighty countries have confirmed participation so far. We expect about 1,500 participants and officials for the championships. We are putting them up in six hotels in the city.
“It will be an excellent opportunity to showcase martial arts and also create tourism opportunities for our country.
“Malaysian wushu fans can look forward to some exciting performances,” said Desmond, who was also the organising chairman when Malaysia hosted the inaugural World Youth Wushu championships in Kuala Lumpur in 2006.
Desmond admitted that the experience gained from hosting the 2006 youth championships had given them an insight into the logistics involved in organising such a major event.
“But this is much bigger. Thankfully, we have the Tourism Ministry coming in to help support our event.
“They have agreed to sponsor the welcoming dinner for the participants. The National Sports Council (NSC) have also helped us buy the new competition carpet.
“We have also erected tents to be used by the exponents to warm up before they enter the competition arena,” he said.
The competition comprises three disciplines – Taolu (barehands and weapons), Sanshou (Chinese boxing) and Duilian (dual event) – and offer 48 gold medals from Friday until Nov 5.
Malaysia have named 14 exponents and five officials for the world meet.
The officials are Datuk Garry Chua Kah Seng (chef-de-mission), Koo Beng Koon (team manager), Yoong Thong Foong and Luo Hao (taolu coaches) and Khoo Meng Yang (sanshou coach).
The exponents are Lee Yang, Loh Jack Chang, Ho Mun Hua, Ng Say Yoke, Yeap Wai Kin, Ng Shin Yii, Diana Bong Siong Lin, Tai Cheau Xuen, Chai Fong Wei, Phoon Eyin, Tan Jia Guan, Mirage_khan, Lee Wei Loong and Tang Pei Pin.
Meanwhile, former Wushu Federation of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee has been appointed as a vice-president of the International Wushu Federation (IWUF), taking over from the late Tun Lim Keng Yaik.
IWUF will also be holding their congress here this week.
IWUF, who were based in China for 22 years, shifted their headquarters to Lausanne, Switzerland, in order for them to get wushu into the Olympics.
The move has paid off, with wushu getting into the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, next year.
One of the matters on the agenda for the congress is the setting up of an Anti-Doping Commission, with Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan being proposed to head it.
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