(Left) national coach Li
Hui guiding Md Safiee
Shayferan Roslan during
yesterday's training
session at the
Multipurpose Hall of
the Menglait Sports
Complex. Picture:
BT/Yee Chun Leong
Brunei will be sending seven exponents to the 7th Asian Junior Wushu Championships in Manila next month.
Brothers Md Sufi Shayiran, Md Adi Sya'rani, Md Adi Salihin and Md Safiee Shayferan Roslan together with the trio of Ang Guat Lian, Nur Batrisyia Ripin and Dk Nur Wardinna Pg Hj Aji will be flying the flag for the Sultanate at the August 8-11 competition.
National wushu coach, Li Hui, is not thinking about medals but instead is hoping that his athletes will be able to pick up as much knowledge as possible at the Makati Coliseum.
"This is a big tournament and our aim is to groom these young athletes," said Li in an interview with The Brunei Times when met during yesterday's training session at the Multipurpose Hall of the Menglait Sports Complex.
"My target is for them to gain as much as experience as possible.
"It will be good exposure for them and it should be an eye-opener," he added.
"I hope they will be able to see their weaknesses and learn from them.
"We will compare and observe the others who will be competing and I hope that it gives them the motivation to get better," continued the Chinese national.
The team have been training year long and are still going through six sessions per week during Ramadhan.
Li knows how tough it is for his Muslim athletes and applaud them for putting in the work.
"We have been training year round and over the past month have been preparing for this competition," said Li.
"Training is a little bit more difficult during the month of Ramadhan as their stamina and energy are affected - but we try to get the best out of it.
"They will have to make some more sacrifices because tomorrow (Tuesday) we will start having night sessions as well," concluded the national coach.
Ang Lu Guan will also be heading to the competition as a judge.
According to The Philippine Star, a total of 23 countries will take part in the four-day competition.
Besides Brunei and hosts the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Vietnam are also taking part from the Southeast Asia region.
The other countries in the tournament are Afghanistan, China, Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Nepal and Uzbekistan.
