National junior Wushu championship from May 26

Chandigarh, May 23 (UNI) With the Union Ministry promoting Wushu to the priority list from the general category, more than 500 boys and girls from 30 states and Union Territories are expected to compete in the four-day 7th Indian Oil Junior National Wushu Championship to be held here from May 26.

The championship being organised by the Wushu Association of Chandigarh (WAC) will be held at the Sector 10 Rink Hall here.

Union Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal will inaugurate the championship.

Addressing a press conference here today, WAC general secretary Sudershan Kumar disclosed that 27 states and Union Territories had already confirmed their participation. The teams from North-Eastern states have already started their journey despite prevailing uneasy situation in Punjab. The organisers have assured to provide insurance cover to all participants and officials.

Sudershan disclosed the first position holders in the seventh edition would be selected in the Indian team which would participate in the Junior Asian Wushu Championship to be held in Korea from June 25 to 30.

A two-member technical panel consisting of Sarika and Sohail has been constituted by the Sports Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh, to visit Chandigarh to spot the talented players. The selected players will be provided scientific training for three months in Jabalpur.

Sudershan said the annual general body meeting of the Wushu Association of India will be held here on May 28. New office-bearers would be elected in the AGM.

WAC president K S Bharti was confident that Chandigarh would win 4-5 medals. The Chandigarh players are attenting a coaching camp at the Labour Hall in Sector 30 under the supervision of NIS qualified coaches Ramesh Singh and Rakesh Kumar.

Meanwhile, WAC office bearers express their gratitute to Dr Yogendra Narain, Secretary General, Rajya Sabha, who is also president of Wushu Association of India and WAI secretary general Anand Kacker for their efforts to include Wushu in the priority list.

UNI