56-member National Wushu Pool starts training for SAG

The Wushu Federation of Sri Lanka has formed a 56-member National Pool with the South Asian Games (SAG) in Kathmandu, Nepal from December 1 to 10, comprising 39 men and 17 women who are training at Torrington

Indoor Stadium.

The coach for Sanda category is Kapila Sabapathi while Ruchira Bodinayake is coach for Taolu events. Wushu was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1993. It became a medal event in the South Asian Games for the first time in 2006 during the Colombo SAG.

Sri Lanka won four gold, two silver and four bronze medals at the inaugural Wushu event.

India also won four gold medals. However, India has made giant strides compared to Sri Lanka in Wushu because their National Olympic Committee of India, Government of India and States support for the sport of Wushu in India. Another reason is because every district in India has two Chinese coaches to oversee the development of the sport.

At the last edition of SAG, Sri Lanka won six medals including one gold, one silver and four bronze medals. Hasitha Lakshan won the Gold medal in Taolu but he is no longer available having retired from the sport.

The medals hopefuls this time are Pethum Nuan Balawardena in Taolu.

(SP)