The Philippines will host the 7th Asian Junior Wushu Championship on Aug. 8 to 12 in Makati.
Thirty-eight countries are expected to field athletes in the event that has received strong support from President Aquino, who has declared the month of August as Philippine Wushu Month.
It will mark the first time that the country is hosting a wushu tournament of this magnitude since the Wushu Federation of the Philippines staged the Asian Wushu Championship in 1996.
“This is a big boost to our efforts to ramp up Philippine wushu to even higher level,” said WFP president Tan She Ling.
“As in WFP’s organizing the Asian Wushu Championship way back in 1996, we are leaving no stone unturned to make the Asian Junior Wushu Championship a rousing success—a showcase of the organizational acumen and management savvy of the Filipino.”
Wushu has been listed as one of the 10 priority sports of the government and through the Proclamation No. 554 dated Feb. 28, President Aquino urged departments and agencies to support the event.
The continental event has already received the backing of Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia.
“The POC is giving full support to the WFP’s domestic and international activities and we are confident the 7th Asian Junior Wushu Championship to be another feather in the cap of Wushu Federation of Asia and International Wushu Federation,” Cojuangco said. Cedelf P. Tupas