National wushu coach Li Hui applauded his athletes for showing good determination and strength during their 40-day stint in Shanghai, China.

The five athletes Harris Adli Peranchis, Faustina Woo Wai Sii, Lee YingShi, Karyn Ho Chia Yin and brothers Mohd Adi Syarani and Mohd Sufi Shayiran Roslan braved intensive training away from home and finally returned on Wednesday after putting in all the hard work at the Shanghai Sports Complex.

Being shortlisted as one of the sports to fly the flag for Brunei at the 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Indonesia in November, the aim of the intensive training is to improve the Sultanate's chances of winning medals at the said competition.

During the short training stint, the Brunei contingent also managed to bag four gold, four silver and four bronze medals at the Xinjiang International Wushu Tournament from May 13-15.

"I'm satisfied with their showing in China. They have made plenty of improvements and we'll continue to work hard to prepare ourselves ahead of any future tournaments," Li Hui told The Brunei Times upon arrival at the Brunei International Airport in Berakas on Wednesday.

"The athletes were excellent and I'm proud of the younger ones (Mohd Adi Syarani and Mohd Sufi Shayiran) as they put up good performances at the competition," he said.

"They have plenty of potential and they are the future of the sport (in the Sultanate). I have good confidence in them for they are developing well starting at a young age and have a good chance at winning medals for the country later on," added the Chinese native.

13-year-old Mohd Adi Syarani pocketed two silver medals in the changquan (long fist) and jianshu (swordplay) events while younger brother Md Sufi (12 years old) won the country's first gold when he took the changquan title before adding a bronze in the daoshu (sword) category.

Woo was the biggest winner for Brunei at the tournament with two gold medals from nandao (southern broad sword) and nanquan (southern fist) events. She also bagged a silver together with partner Lee in the duilian (duo sparring with broadsword and spear) event. Lee managed a bronze to her name in the changquan event.

Ho won another gold in the changquan discipline and added a bronze medal in the jianshu (swordplay) event while Harris won silver and bronze in nangun (southern cudgel) and in nanquan respectively.

The wushu team is also expected to compete in the 6th Asian Junior Wushu Championships in Shanghai from Aug 17-21 and the 11th World Wushu Championships in Turkey from Oct 6-15. The team will resume training today.

Courtesy from Brunei Times