- Chandigarh university honors International and National Wushu players during the inauguration ceremony
Chandigarh, 26 Feburary 2021 - The 29th Senior National Men & Women Wushu Championship 2021 kicked off to a flying start at the campus of Chandigarh University Gharuan. Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Minister for Sports, Youth & NRI Affairs, Government of Punjab along with Bhupinder Singh Bajwa, President, Wushu Association of India (WAI) and Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor, Chandigarh University inaugurated the 29th Senior National Wushu Championship which is being organized by Wushu Association of India. More than 43 teams comprising of 1000 players from all 28 State, Union Territories, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, Services Sports Control Board are participating in the 5-day National Championship.
While delivering at the inauguration ceremony of the Senior National Wushu championship, Cabinet Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, said “ The sports of Wushu which originated from China has become popular in India in a very short span of time, the Minister advocated to consider Wushu not only a sport but also to be used as a self-defense tool by women and children”. “It is becoming increasingly important that women and especially children should learn this martial art for self-protection which is important in today's scenario due to the increase in the numbers of child and women harassment cases in the society for this the Punjab Government is planning to take Wushu at the school level where the students will be learning the martial arts under the guidance of experts”. While replying to the question of the upcoming Punjab Sports University at Patiala, Cabinet Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi said, “ Out of the total budget of Rs 500 crores, an initial amount of Rs 50 crore was released in 2020 for setting up the academic, administration and hostel block at Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Sports University. In the upcoming budget, an additional amount of Rs, 50 crores would be allocated which will speed up the work of sports university”. Punjab government is in the process to sign MoU with UK’s Loughborough University for offering short term courses and degree programs in sports and physical education, the minister added.
Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi further said that “Although the game of Wushu originated from China but players like Poonam Khatri, Parveen Kumar have made India proud with their achievements by winning Wushu World Championship in 2019”.
Chandigarh University honored Arjuna awardee, Dronacharya Awardee International and National players of Wushu included Puja Kadian, Sandhya Rani, Bimoljit Singh and Kuldeep Handu during the opening ceremony of the National Wushu championship.
The 29th edition of the National Men and Women Wushu Championship will witness two forms of the game; Sanshou and Taolu. The men’s tournament has been divided into 9 weight categories Under 44 kg, -48 kg, -52 kg, -56 kg, -60 kg, -65 kg, -70 kg, -75 kg, over 75 while the women’s tournament will see players participating in Under 40 kg, -45 kg, -48 kg, -52 kg, -56 kg, -60 kg,--65 kg, over 65 kg weight categories. Qualifying matches of men and women in all the categories of Sanda event of Senior National Wushu championship were played on the first day of the event.
Satnam Singh Sandhu Chancellor Chandigarh University said, “ This is the first mega National level sports Championship being organized in Punjab after the fearful year of pandemic special arrangements keeping in mind and the Covid-19 guidelines has been made by Chandigarh University so that the players can perform the best to their ability without having any fear”.
Photo Caption 1: Minister of Sports, Youth & NRI Affairs Rana Gurmit Sodhi, Bhupinder Singh Bajwa, President, Wushu Association of India (WAI) and Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor, Chandigarh University inaugurating the 29th Senior National Men & Women Wushu Championship at Chandigarh University.
2. Wushu players from 28 states and 8 Union territories participating in the inaugural ceremony of 29th Senior National Men & Women Wushu Championship at Chandigarh University Gharuan
3. Arjuna Awardee and International Wushu player Sandhya Rani being honored by Rana Gurmit Sodhi Minister of Sports, Youth & NRI Affairs and Satnam Singh Sandhu chancellor Chandigarh University during the inaugural Ceremony Of 29th Senior National Men & Women Wushu Championship.
4. Dronacharya Awardee and International Wushu player Kuldeep Handu being honored by Rana Gurmit Sodhi Minister of Sports, Youth & NRI Affairs and Satnam Singh Sandhu chancellor Chandigarh University during the inaugural Ceremony Of 29th Senior National Men & Women Wushu Championship.
5. Minister of Sports, Youth & NRI Affairs Rana Gurmit Sodhi, Bhupinder Singh Bajwa, President, Wushu Association of India (WAI) and Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor, Chandigarh University inaugurating the first match of the 29th Senior National Men & Women Wushu Championship at Chandigarh University.
6. Wushu players of Services Sports Control Board and Delhi Team fighting the inaugural match during the 29th Senior National Men & Women Wushu Championship at Chandigarh University.