23 Vietnamese martial artists will participate in the Asian Wushu Championships.
The 8th Asian Wushu Championships 2012, organized by the General Department of Physical Education and Sports in coordination with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City, will take place from August 21-25 at Phan Dinh Phung Gymnasium (Ho Chi Minh City).
This information was provided by Mr. Mai Bá Hùng, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City and Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee of the competition, on the afternoon of August 17th.
The 2012 Asian Wushu Championships attracted 350 athletes and 170 coaches from 22 countries and territories, including Thailand, China, Uzbekistan, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and host country Vietnam. The athletes competed in two categories: Taolu (forms) and Sanshou (sparring), vying for 40 sets of medals.
Nguyen Mai Phuong was unable to participate in the tournament due to injury. (Photo: Quoc Khanh/VNA)
In the Taolu category, the performance includes forms (long fist, southern fist, Tai Chi), short weapons (sword, saber, southern saber, Tai Chi sword), long weapons (spear, staff, southern staff), and sparring for men and women, with a total of 22 sets of medals. Sanda is a combat competition in weight classes of 48, 52, 56, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 and over 90 for men and 48, 52, 56, 65, 70 for women, with a total of 17 sets of medals.
Mr. Le Minh Ha, Head of Wushu Department under the General Department of Physical Education and Sports, and a member of the Organizing Committee of the tournament, said: The host team Vietnam participating in the tournament consists of 23 martial artists, competing in two categories: kata (forms) and sparring.
At this tournament, athlete Nguyen Mai Phuong (the reigning Taolu champion at the 26th SEA Games) will not participate due to injury. However, the host team still boasts many outstanding athletes such as: Nguyen Thanh Tung (world gold medalist in Tai Chi); Nguyen Quoc Khanh (world silver medalist, ASIAD silver medalist, and SEA Games silver medalist in the Southern style); Nguyen Xuan Hiep (world silver medalist, ASIAD silver medalist in Long Fist and Saber Staff)... With most of the martial artists in stable form and possessing good technique, the host team Vietnam aims to win 40 gold medals at this tournament.
Wushu is a martial art that is becoming increasingly popular in many countries around the world. The International Wushu Federation is campaigning for wushu to be one of the official competitive sports at the 2020 Olympic Games.
According to (VNA) - DT
