The 31st FISU World University Games (formerly known as the Universade) have got underway in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, and by last night Macau’s sports delegation had won six medals – one gold, three silver and two bronze – in five categories in martial arts, namely the women’s martial art modality “nanquan”, “nandao”, “jianshu” and “qiangshu”, as well as the men’s martial art modality “nangun” and “gunshu”.
The International University Sports Federation (FISU) headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland has 170 member associations.
The ongoing multi-sport event, which started on Friday and will end next Tuesday, is offering 269 medals in 18 different sporting events.
On Saturday, the first competition day of martial arts, local athlete Wong Sam In won the first bronze medal for Macau in the women’s martial art modality “nandao”, with a result of 9.506 points; on the second tournament day yesterday, Macau garnered one gold and two silver medals in the women’s martial art modality “nanquan”, as well as “jianshu” and “qiangshu” by Wong Sam In and fellow local athlete Wong Weng Ian respectively, with their individual results of 9.643 points, 9.656 points and 9.593 points.
In the men’s martial arts, local athlete Cheung Ioi Chit and Lei Cheok Ieong, respectively, won the silver and bronze medals in “nangun” and “gunshu”, with their respective results of 9.66 points and 9.6 points.
Speaking to the media after a press conference yesterday at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) in Nape, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U expressed her appreciation and congratulations to all Macau athletes competing in the international tournament for their efforts in training and, in particular, to those who won the medals in the first two days of the event, adding: “It’s not easy for athletes to juggle school studies and sports training”.
Ao Ieong also said she expected the local athletes to try their best to continue to achieve optimal results while, at the same time, enjoy participating in the games. However, she underlined, local athletes are not required to perform at any level.
In an interview with China News Service (CNS) yesterday, Sports Bureau (ID) President Pun Weng Kun noted that there are 52 athletes from Macau competing in eight sporting events, comprising martial arts, swimming, badminton, table tennis and taekwondo – a Korean martial art involving punching and kicking techniques, with emphasis on head-height kicks, spinning jump kicks, and fast kicking techniques, with a total of more than 80 members in the local delegation.
This handout photo provided by the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture shows Macau’s “golden girl” Wong Sam In competing in the women’s martial art “nanquan” modality during the second tournament day of the 31st FISU World University Games in Chengdu yesterday. Wong won Macau’s first gold medal at the event opened by President Xi Jinping on Friday.
