Cambrians Wushu champs

Yasaratne GAMAGE

Prince of Wales, Moratuwa emerged the overall Boys' Champions at the All Island inter-schools Wushu Competition held at Sugathadasa Stadium recently.

Cambrians dominated the tournament by grabbing one silver and seven gold medals. Pathum Perera who won two gold medals was adjudged most outstanding player in under 13 category while Sandaru Erangana was awarded the same in under 15 category for his two gold medals and silver.

Viraj Denuka collected three gold medals to win the most outstanding player award in under 17 category.

Ananda College, Colombo had to be satisfied being the runners up with five gold medals whereas Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo emerged Girls' champion and the runners up were Musaeus College, Colombo.

Piliyandala Central rose to the top in the mixed category to win the championship while Gothatuwa Giggles International School got the runners up slot.

The tournament which was postponed from last year October was a bonus for Cambrians as the long waiting gave them extra hours to practice, said Elvis Nishantha , Cambrian Wushu coach.

During the prolonged cold war era, Wushu was introduced by the army to subdue the enemy, practiced by the ordinary people as a means for self-defense and physical training, as well as for a cheerful life.

During the process of its gradual improvement and development in modern times, Wuhu has been basically separated from military skills. With attack and defense as its basic movements and the Chinese traditional culture as its background, Wuhu has become a sports event for Cambrians which has helped to bring pride and esteem for themselves. It has been the tremendous background that caught their pulse to the sport.

Prince of Whales Wushu coach Elvis Nishantha commenting on the victory said that more practice and scientific approach was a catalyst for the achievement.

Elvis with his experience as a South Asian gold medalist in two consecutive years and also the silver medalist in 2006 Wushu world cup is seen perfect as a coach for Whales kids and the recent achievement bears evidence.

Prince of Walse's motto 'impossible is nothing, believe your self' depicts the reason for their talent without exaggeration and has been the shining star to show the pathway.

Wushu , the time -honoured sport took Pasindu Peris to World Junior Wushu Championship held in Singapore in 2010 where he scored the highest number of points in an event for Sri Lanka.

They also brought gold and bronze medals from Shanghai , China when they represented Sri Lanka in the Asan Junior Wushu Championship, last year.

Hope fully there will be more merits to the college as World Children's Wushu Championship which started in Turkey, yesterday is attended by Prince of Whales players.

The schedule will be a busy one for them as another Wuhu player from Whales; Wiraj is participating in the same context next year and is confident of reaching a medal.

In the competitive school environment today, it is really a challenge to find time to master a discipline like Wuhu but it has been an exception to Prince of Whales players. They treat their studies as it should be and carry on with the disicipline with ease.

Elvis is pretty concerned about his 'masters' wellbeing and future in Wushu, that is why they as a team sold stickers to raise funds for tournaments. Elvis extends an open invitation to everyone, most probably ex-whales to join hands with them to uplift Wushu in the college.

Today Wushu has been the apple of the eye for many a younger in Prince of Whales, Moratuwa and is well supported by principal and fellow teachers.

Because of their uniqueness, richness in playing style, diversity in forms Cambrians have won many titles and will continue to do so in the future.