Jammu, Sept 09: Three players from the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir have been selected to represent India at the 10th Asian Wushu Championship in Macau, China, from September 9 to 16, 2024. The Indian Wushu team, comprising 30 athletes, underwent extensive training at a national coaching camp held at NS NIS Patiala under the aegis of the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
The three J&K players—Surya Bhanu Partap Singh, Abhishek Jamwal, and Rajat Charak—were shortlisted following two rounds of selection trials organized by the Wushu Association of India. The preliminary trials took place in Jammu, followed by the final trials in Karnataka.
Wushu coach Kuldeep Handoo, a Dronacharya Awardee, expressed immense pride in the athletes, saying, “It is a great honor for the Wushu Association of J&K and the UT that these three talented players are part of the Indian squad. They are among the top contenders for medals at the championship.”
Surya Bhanu Partap Singh, competing in the below 65kg category, is a seasoned athlete with a silver medal from the BRICS Games and an Asian Games medal to his name. Abhishek Jamwal, the national champion in the 56kg weight category, was the sole gold medalist from J&K at the Gujarat National Games. Rajat Charak, competing in the below 90kg category, is also a national champion.
The Indian contingent was sanctioned by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and SAI, with the trip fully funded by the government. The team is set to arrive in Macau on September 9, with the weigh-ins and draw of lots scheduled for September 10. Bouts will commence from September 11.
Vijay Saraf, President of the Wushu Association of J&K, and General Secretary Bhavneet, extended their congratulations to the players, as did Kuldeep Handoo, who also acknowledged the support of the J&K government. Handoo specifically thanked Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Secretary YSS Sarmad Hafeez, and Secretary J&K Sports Council Nuzhat Gul for their contributions, noting the recent procurement of IWUF-approved Wushu equipment for the state’s athletes.
The Asian Wushu Championship promises to be a critical platform for Indian athletes, and hopes are high for a strong performance from the J&K players.
