Six multi-medallists are leading Brunei's charge at the 4th World Traditional Wushu Championships which starts tomorrow in Wudang, China.

Abdul Rahim Johari, Ang Guat Lian and Harris Adli Peranchis will be joining Faustina Woo Wai Sii, Lee Ying Shi and Karyn Ho Jia Yin in what is the Sultanate's second participation in the four-day event.

The same number of exponents represented Brunei during the last edition of the biennial tournament in 2008, where their medal haul of two gold, three silver and four bronze medals came as a surprise to many including themselves.

Slowly emerging as one of the best national teams in Brunei, Wushu Federation of Brunei Darussalam (WFBD) deputy secretary-general believes that the side that left yesterday will be trying to better their haul of two years ago.

"I think they will do well considering their past achievements," said Calvin Ang yesterday.

"We have sent younger exponents this year, mainly for them to get more exposure.

"Harris and another exponent have been in Guangzhou for the past few weeks to train and they will go direct to Wudang from there," he added.

According to a report from Chinese national news agency Xinhua, more than 2,200 exponents from over 80 countries and regions will compete in more than 300 events of the Chinese martial arts, such as taijiquan, sword, cudgel and spear. The first three editions of the event were held in China's Zhengzhou and Shiyan cities from 2004 to 2008.

Harris won gold in the Taijiquan (Taiji Fist) event in 2008, with the other coming from Isa Bismi in the Nangun (Southern Staff) event.

The Sultanate's three silver medals came from Harris, Ismi Bismi and junior exponent Abdul Rahim, who won the Nanquan (Southern Fist), Nangun (Southern Staff) and Nangun (Southern Staff) events respectively.

Only 14 years old at the time, Abdul Rahim also won bronze in the Nandao (Southern single-edged sword) event, with Isa also winning another in the Nanquan (Southern Fist) event.

The remaining two bronze medals were won by Ang Lu Guan and Lim Han Liang.

Clinching the Sultanate's only silver medal at last December's 25th SEA Games in Vientiane, Laos, Faustina and Lee are proving to be a potent partnership.

They have appeared on the podium in every competition they have contested in so far, winning a bronze medal at the 5th Asian Junior Wushu Championships in Macau last June. They also bagged a bronze medal at the 3rd Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam in early December.

Courtesy from Brunei Times