Juniors Excited For Wushu Championships
[Written by Stephen Wright]
More than 40 athletes will compete in the Bermuda Open Wushu Championships at Dellwood Middle School Gymnasium tomorrow [October 18], showcasing senior and junior talent across Sanda [Chinese kickboxing] and taolu [forms] events.
The annual tournament, running from 10am to 4pm, will feature seven overseas competitors joining the island’s top performers from the Bermuda Sanshou Association, including Krista Dyer, Cole and Che Durham, Talia Iris and Kaelin Cox.
Among the juniors, ten-year-old Tristan Robinson and his eight-year-old sister Yara will compete in Sanda and taolu.
“I’m kind of nervous because I’ve three fights against competitors from the US,” said Tristan, who captured gold medals at the Phoenix Wushu Nationals in Arizona and the Pan American Wushu Championships in California last year.
“I’ve been training two or three times a week, and I’ve been working on my boxing, stamina, pacing myself, and my takedowns.
“It’s tough doing both forms, but I enjoy them – it’s a great experience. It’s fun that my sister Yara is competing too.”
Fourteen-year-old Geraldine Sidders said the competition will provide valuable preparation for the World Junior Wushu Championships in Tianjin, China, next March, where she will compete in taolu.
She is also aiming to reach the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, next year.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to show our families and locals who can’t come on our overseas trips what we do,” said Sidders, who will compete in Sanda and taolu.
“A lot of preparation has gone into this competition, both in the gym and from an administrative aspect.
“It’s great to introduce and expose the sport to people. I’m super-excited to see so many of our younger kids competing.
“Hopefully, we can attract some more youngsters to take part.”
Muryah Swan will aim to win another gold at the championships, having claimed the title in the 13 to 16 female division last year.
She said she has been focusing on her boxing skills at The Controversy Gym to improve her all-round game.
“This is a great event – people can sign-up without much experience and enjoy a new sport,” said Swan, who claimed silver at the Pan American Wushu Championships in San Clara, California, last year.
The 17-year-old said she hopes the championships will inspire more youngsters, especially girls, to take up the sport.
“It would be great to have more girls competing locally,” she said.
“Hopefully, Bermudians come to watch and get inspired to do the sport and be like, ‘This is something I want to do’.
“Even if it’s for self-defence and they don’t want to compete, it’s a really good sport and teaches you a lot about life.”
