Wushu Kung-Fu
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, June 8, 2018 (NAN) Ojo Adelusi, National Coach, Nigeria Wushu Kung-fu Federation (NWKF), has expressed delight with the inclusion of the sport in the 2018 African Youth Games (NYG) in Algiers, Algeria.
Adelusi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that it was a dream come through and described it as a positive development for the practitioners.
NAN reports that Sheriff Mostafa, President of African Wushu Kung-fu Federation (AWKF), announced that Wushu has been accepted as an official sport in the 2018 AYG from July 18 to July 28.
He said the Solomon Dalung-led Ministry of Youth and Sports had taken the advantage to consider Wushu as part of sports that the nation would feature in at the Games.
“We have overcome one of our major challenges since the beginning of the AYG, I am glad that wushu sport has been given official recognition as an event at the forthcoming AYG.
“Our appreciation goes to the sports minister for ensuring that we join other African countries to book a place in the newly introduced Wushu sport at the Games.
“The jinx of limitations of our young athletes to compete at the AYG have been broken, they will have greater opportunities of exposure and improvement in the sport,’’ he said.
He noted that the sport had lots of medal chances due to the multi-events and categories in the Sanshuo and Taolu usually at stake in standard championships.
According to him, the participation of the nation’s athletes in the sport would go a long way to boost the medal hauls of Team Nigeria at the Games.
“Now, Nigeria’s medal table is going to increase because Wushu has lots of medal opportunities which is going to be the target of athletes that are going to compete,’’ he added.
NAN reports that Wushu Kungfu is a martial art which is originated from China. (NAN)
MIL/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)