The Brunei wushu team in a group photo prior to departure at the Brunei International Airport. PHOTO: WUSHU FEDERATION OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
Twelve wushu athletes will represent the Brunei Wushu Team in the first-ever China-ASEAN Wushu Championships at the invitation of the Wushu Federation of China-ASEAN in Nantong, China from today until November 7.
The wushu exponents comprise Lim Wan Xin; Bella Lee Tseen Qin; Belle Lee Tseen Se; Sarah Tan Xue Mae; Natalie Ong Xin Ying; Samuel Ong Yong Jun; Loo Chun Zhen; Emma Chua Yee Sheen; Emilia Chua Yee Qing; Lauren Emily Chua Yu Qing; Lim Mae Qi and Hannah Tan Zi Lin.
The team will be accompanied by national head Coach Li Hui and women’s coach Zhao Chunjie.
With the youngest participant aged nine, the team mainly comprises young athletes with an emphasis of training them to learn from competition experience and to better improve the reserve strength of the Brunei national team.
The competition will also be seen as an opportunity to prepare the athletes for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which will see the inclusion of wushu in the sport programme.
According to Li Hui, this is the first time for the young athletes to compete overseas.
He said, “I hope the athletes will safeguard the national image, continue to carry forward the team spirit, help each other, abide by the discipline and win glory for the country.”
The national head coach, who has guided numerous local wushu athletes to podium success at the global stage, also expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports for their continuous support. – Fadhil Yunus
