IT IS A HOMECOMING FOR WUSHU : VIKRAM VERMA

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The Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Vikram Verma inaugurated the second South Asian WUSHU (Men-Women) Championship at Talkatora Stadium, here today. WUSHU teams from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and India are participating in the three day meet which is being held for the first time in India.

Inaugurating the Championship, Shri Vikram Verma said, "WUSHU, the mother of all martial arts, (popularly called KUNG-FU) is an ancient Chinese martial art. As a game, it is fast gaining popularity and has been introduced as a regular discipline in the Asiads. It will also be introduced as a regular discipline in 2008 Olympics".

Recalling the contribution of Bodhidharma in development of Wushu, he said, "Tournaments like this would go a long way in popularizing KUNG-FU again in India, the nation it originally came from. Indeed, it is a kind of homecoming for this great game".

The first South Asian Wushu championship was held in Nepal in 2000. India has been sending its teams for Asian and World Championships and has been winning medals. In India it is being promoted by WUSHU Association of India which is a member of International Wushu Federation. The Wushu Association of India is a registered and recognized body by Government of India and Indian Olympic Association.

The inauguration was attended by Mr. Hua Jun Duo, the Ambassador, People’s Republic of China, Shri Yogendra Narain, President Wushu Association of India and Secretary General, Rajya Sabha and Shri L.M.Mehta, Secretary Sports, Government of India.