A hero for Macao, a lover of Kongfu
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Can there be a hero more "cooler" than the Wushu player Jia Rui, after he makes the history to win Macao the first Asian Games gold medal?
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Veteran Wushu player Jia Rui wins Macao the first gold medal at the Guangzhou Asian Games in men's Daoshu and Gunshu Combined on Sunday. |
When the big screen at the Nansha Gymnasium reads 19.61 points, Jia's score in men's competitions of broad sword art and staff art, the crowds burst into hails.
However, the 23-year-old, stood still beside the blue-carpet stage and fisted his right hand in the left one, making salute to the cheerful people at the stands. No sign of ecstasy on his face.
The veteran player, who is especially good at the competitions with weapons like broad sword and staff, is the favorite in men's combined competitions of broad sword art and staff art, as the hosts are absent from the event.
"I didn't expect to win, but just making no mistakes," Jia told the press at the mixed zone, who are mostly from Macao and the neighboring Hong Kong. "It's so lucky for me to win the first gold for Macao. The winning means we are on a new stage of the sports development now."
Macao is in desperate need of ending its gold drought at Asian Games after winning five silver medals and 10 bronze medals since its debut at the Beijing Games in 1990.
"We also have gold hopes in other events like karate. Hope my winning is just a start," Jia said.
Jia is from central China's Henan Province, which is known as the hometown of Chinese Kongfu with the world-renowned Shaolin Temple situated in its Songshan Mountain.
"Everyone there in my hometown loves Kongfu, and a lot of kids, boys and girls, practice Kongfu when they are four or five, or even younger," He said.
"I love Kongfu immediately when I first saw some boys playing it in my neighborhood," Jia recalled. "It's so nice of they to allow me to watch and to learn."
Jia started professional training at seven, a little bit later than his peers. However, he gave his talents fully played and soon made his name known by winning a dozen of national and international events. He was recruited by the Macao Polytechnic Institute in 2004 and then started to represent Macao.
However, Jia suffered a bitter Asian Games' start four years ago in Doha. He was outcast by Yuan Xiaochao, who won the first gold of the Guangzhou Games for China on Saturday, to finish the second place in the men's all-around. The event then included the competitions of Changquan (long fist boxing), Daoshu (broadsword art) and Gunshu (staff art).
"This time I chose the event of Daoshu and Gunshu combined, because then I had the chance to perform at stage of the Asian Games twice," he said.
"It's not easy for one to participate in two consecutive Asian Games. I'm competing with myself."
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