The 9th World Wushu Championships concluded in Beijing on Saturday night, rounding off a 6-day, 40-event spectacle dominated by the host China, which swept 18 gold medals out of 40 awarded.

 

China's Macao finished second on the final medal tally with three gold, five silver and four bronze medals, and Vietnam stood third with 3-4-7.

 

Wang Xiaolin, deputy chairman of the organizing committee, said that China's domination was challenged as the competition between foreign athletes and Chinese athletes were increasingly fierce, which indicated the development and popularization of Wushu around the world.

 

A total of 18 gold medals came from sanshou (fight) arena on Saturday, with the action taking place in women and men sessions separately.

 

Four Chinese female sanshou athletes cruised into the finals and all of them were crowned. Qin Lizi, E Meidie, Wu Jiao and Sun Hui were triumphed at 52kg, 56kg, 65kg and 70kg. While Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Bich claimed the title in 48kg category, her compatriot Luhon Thi Hoa won the 60kg competition. Michelle Manser from Britain grabbed the gold of 75kg due to a default of her opponent.

 

In the men's 11 sanshou finals, China showed their dominance when He Guangrong, Zhang Shuaike, Yu Feibiao, Zhang Yong and Yu Jin won the 48kg, 56kg, 60kg, 65kg and 90kg titles respectively to sweep five golds for the host. Russia seized 75kg and 85kg gold medals while the other four gold medals were carved up by Turkey, China's Macao, Iran and the Netherlands.

 

The six-day biyearly championships were attended by more than 1,000 athletes, coaches and sports officials from 89 countries and regions. It was the largest-ever event with highest technical standard since the first edition was held in Beijing in 1991.

 

Wushu will be listed as a special event in the Beijing Olympics, namely the 2008 Beijing Wushu Tournament from August 21 to 24 next year.

 

Toranto of Canada will host the 10th World Wushu Championships in 2009.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2007)