On the morning of September 25, 2024, the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships officially kicked off in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. This year’s event has attracted 498 participants from 50 countries and regions worldwide.
Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid, Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of Brunei, Minister of Development of Brunei government announced the opening of the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships 2024. IWUF Vice President Anthony Goh, Sherif Mostafa,Weng Kit Chan and Patrick van Campenhout, Secretary General Zhang Qiuping, Yang Mulia Pengiran Haji Mohd Hasnan bin Pengiran Haji Ali Hassan, Permanent Secretary (Culture and Sports) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, as CoChairman of the Executive Committee for the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships 2024; Yang Mulia Dr. Muhammad Firdaus bin Abdul Rahman, Vice President of the Brunei Darussalam Wushu Association, as Co-Chairman of the Executive Committee for the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships 2024; Lim Boon Hwa, President of the Wushu Federation of Brunei Darussalam,Permanent Secretaries; representatives from the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council attended the ceremony.
The Opening Ceremony consisted of two main sections: the sporting ceremony and a cultural showcase. The event began with a grand parade of athletes and technical officials, representing 50 participating countries and regions from five continents, all gathered to celebrate the spirit of youth wushu. The ceremony continued with the national anthem of Brunei and the official anthem of the International Wushu Federation, setting a solemn tone for the proceedings. The event proceeded with welcoming speech from Yang Mulia Dr. Muhammad Firdaus bin Abdul Rahman, Co-Chairman of the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships 2024, and remarks from Mr. Anthony Goh, Vice President of the International Wushu Federation (IWUF). This was followed by the Athlete’s Oath, led by Lim Wan Xin from Brunei, and the Judge’s Oath, recited by Marcus Alves from Brazil.
The cultural performances section featured a variety of artistic showcases. The traditional hadrah drum performance by the PGS RMF Music Academy captivated the audience with its unique rhythm and melody, while a traditional Bruneian dance performed by local high school students highlighted the rich cultural heritage and charm of Brunei. Additionally, the Brunei National Wushu Team dazzled the crowd with a stunning wushu performance, and a traditional Chinese dance from Chung Hwa Middle School provided a visual feast. The atmosphere reached its peak with the performance of the event’s theme song, “Young Wushu Warriors”, which not only ignited the audience’s enthusiasm but also inspired the young wushu athletes, fostering their love for the sport and their hopes for the future.
The 9th World Junior Wushu Championships is hosted by IWUF and organized by the Brunei Wushu Federation.
This year’s championships feature two main categories: taolu (routine) and sanda (sparring), with a total of 81 gold medals to be awarded. The taolu competition is divided into three age groups, with 64 events for both boys and girls. The sanda competition is split into two age groups, with 17 weight classes for both male and female competitors. A new addition to this year’s championship is elementary Nanquan, Nandao, Nangun, as well as 24-movements Taijiquan and 32-movement Taijijian for boys and girls in Group C, covering 10 events in total. This new category aims to foster balanced development in junior wushu and cultivate future Youth Olympic stars, injecting fresh talent into the sport.
We eagerly anticipate the unique performances and the vibrant spirit of wushu that young athletes from all five continents will bring to Brunei!The 9th World Junior Wushu Championships promises to be an exciting and memorable event, showcasing the world’s top junior wushu talents and celebrating the spirit of international sportsmanship.
