The grand finale of the Chinese Ambassador’s Cup Wushu Championship was held on Friday at the Velodrome of the National Stadium, Abuja, attracting athletes from across Nigeria in a vibrant celebration of discipline, unity, and cultural exchange through the ancient Chinese martial art of Wushu.
Organised by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Wushu Kung Fu Federation, the event demonstrated the shared values between Chinese and Nigerian cultures while fostering stronger bilateral ties.
In his welcome address, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, described Wushu as “a precious treasure of Chinese culture,” noting that it promotes not only physical fitness but also moral values such as respect, discipline, and harmony.
“Wushu embodies core Chinese values—self-discipline, self-improvement, and a commitment to respecting and helping others. These values resonate deeply with Nigerian culture, which also cherishes hard work and social harmony,” he said.
Ambassador Yu emphasised that the event aligns with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Global Civilisation Initiative, which promotes mutual learning among civilisations, and with the outcomes of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), where both Presidents Xi Jinping and Bola Ahmed Tinubu agreed to strengthen cultural and sports exchanges between the two nations.
“This championship represents an important step in implementing the Global Civilisation Initiative and fulfilling the consensus reached by our two heads of state.
“Through this event, we hope to promote mutual learning between our civilisations, strengthen people-to-people bonds, and lay a solid foundation for the long-term development of the China-Nigeria comprehensive strategic partnership,” he stated.
The Chinese envoy further revealed that Wushu will be featured as an event at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games, urging Nigerian athletes to seize the opportunity to excel internationally.
Also speaking, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, commended the Chinese Embassy for its continuous support of sports development in Nigeria, describing Wushu as a growing sport that offers Nigerian youth a new avenue for personal development and national pride.
“It’s a new sport that is gaining ground in Nigeria, and I believe we should support it to create another pathway for our youth to live their dreams.
“You can be rest assured that the Federal Government is totally behind what we are doing here today, because it aligns with President Tinubu’s vision of developing a robust sports ecosystem capable of driving a sustainable sports economy,” Dikko said.
Earlier in his remarks, Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director-General of the National Sports Commission, expressed optimism about Wushu’s future in Nigeria, pledging that the NSC would work closely with the Chinese Embassy to expand training and competitions across the country.
“Growing up, all of us wanted to be Bruce Lee. So, Kung Fu is traditional to Nigerians. We are going to take Wushu seriously. We will learn the techniques from China and collaborate with the Chinese Embassy to bring in coaches who can help our wards develop the sport nationwide,” Olopode said.
Olopade added that future editions of the Wushu Championship would be held across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, allowing more young people to benefit from the sport’s values of discipline, friendship, and mutual respect.
The event concluded with a thrilling display of martial artistry, where athletes showcased remarkable skill and agility in categories such as Taichi, Sanda, Taolu, and Creative Forms.
Winners received cash prizes, with gold medalists earning ₦500,000, silver medalists ₦300,000, and bronze medalists ₦200,000.
The Taichi category saw Naima Sanusi win gold, with Nasiru Umaru and Henry Hendrix earning silver and bronze medals.
In the Male Sanda event, Goodluck Emmanuel secured the top spot, while Kunle Awoyele and Tarkpe Stephen came in second and third. In the Female Sanda category, Winifred Agara dominated the field to claim gold, Mabel Aduotukeme won silver, and Mercy Joshua took bronze.
In the Creative Form category, Henry Hendrix clinched gold, while Emmanuel Udem and Taiwo Faboro took silver and bronze, respectively. In the Taolu Single event, Justice Unaka emerged champion, followed by Adeyonju Miracle in second place and Esther Obaremi in third.
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