Central Java reigns at national `wushu' meet<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An 81-strong Central Javanese team came from
\nbehind to bag 16 gold medals, 13 silvers and 12 bronzes for the
\noverall title at the second National Wushu Championships
\nconcluded here on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Parading the biggest contingent at the three-day meet, Central
\nJava stumbled into the fourth place on the penultimate day,
\nFriday, with national Asian Games team member Eko Sapuan upset in
\nthe Nanquan discipline.<\/p>\n
The country's strongest martial art powerhouse then romped
\nhome with 12 golds on Saturday, leaving overnight leader East
\nJava to finish second, four golds adrift.<\/p>\n
Jambi, however, stole the show as it denied Javanese teams a
\nclean sweep at the annual event. A collection of six golds, seven
\nsilvers and three bronzes earned the Sumatra side the third place
\noverall ahead of defending champion West Java.<\/p>\n
\"A six-month rigorous training stint has paid off,\" said a
\ndelighted Jambi team manager Amril Madjid. Jambi, led by Chinese
\ncoach Li Zili, fielded 21 athletes. Amril added that wushu will
\nsoon become the second sport after swimming that Jambi may excel
\nin at the National Games.<\/p>\n
A total of 317 martial artists from 12 provinces entered the
\nchampionships held at the Lokasari Sports Hall, West Jakarta. The
\nnumber of entrants was triple the figure for last year, when
\nBandung hosted the event.<\/p>\n
West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Yogyakarta and East Kalimantan
\nleft the second wushu meet empty handed.<\/p>\n
The overall title gave Central Java's team manager Robert Budi
\nWibawa more than pleasure, but he admitted the success was not as
\nconvincing as what he had expected. \"We should have won more
\ngolds,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Central Javanese athletes overwhelmed the national wushu
\ncircuit, the qualifying round for the championships, at home last
\nJune with a haul of 25 golds.<\/p>\n
\"It's clear that the national wushu map has changed fast,\"
\nRobert added, referring to Jambi's dazzling performance.<\/p>",
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