Cape Town - With little financial support, the South African Youth Kung Fu Team won big at this year’s 19th Hong Kong International Wushu Kung Fu Championships, bagging 16 medals and four trophies.
The team of nine departed from Cape Town International Airport on September 9 to represent the country from September 13-16, under the leadership of world Kung Fu champion Muhammad Junaid Chafeker, aka MJ Li, as the only African and South African team to compete at the global tournament.
The team walked away with seven gold medals, three silver medals, six bronze medals and four trophies for group and team synchronised events.
Chafeker described the overall competition as tough, as they competed against experienced teams from China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, Russia and other countries.
“In the perspective of our preparation, hard work and how much we prepared over the months, we were not prepared to let ourselves down and, most importantly, South Africa.
“We are overjoyed but also very tired,” said Chafeker. “We are appreciative of everyone who came on board to support us over the months.
“We raised funds as we got no support from the government, except Cape Town Mayor Geordin HillLewis, some local businesses, NGOs, our parents and my foundation, who helped financially with some of the athletes.”
Chafeker bagged two gold medals in the Professional Athletes Division and was also appointed as an international ambassador for the Hong Kong International Wushu Kung Fu Championship – an appointment made by the Hong Kong organising committee.
The youngest members of the team, 11-year-old juniors Safiyah Parker and Muhammad Ali Chafeker, each won one gold medal in the dual sparring division and one bronze in the individual Taolu Kata division.
“This is an amazing achievement by South Africa and by an African team.
“For South Africa to compete like this on an international stage shows that it is possible if you work hard and are determined.
“It shows that the future of Chinese kung fu is very bright on the African continent,” Chafeker said.
The team is expected to arrive in Cape Town tomorrow.
Cape Argus