Chinese martial art Wushu grows popular in Pakistan’s KP

ISLAMABAD    –   Wushu, or the Chinese martial art has surged into a popular game in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as the province has produced talented players who have represented KP at national and international competitions, according to a report published by Gwadar Pro.

Experts viewed that Chinese martial art could be further promoted if Pakistani players and coaches get training in China or Chinese coaches start visiting the country to share their experiences with the local players.

“It would be one of the top games in the province if we had adequate facilities, foreign qualified coaches and proper training camps,” Najmullah Safi, Secretary General Wushu Association KP, told Gwadar Pro.

Najmullah, 38, is one of the finest Wushu players and a trainer in KP who runs Rehmat Martial Art Academy Peshawar. The academy has cultivated many Wushu players of international caliber.

More than 100 players are attending different classes of Wushu at the academy.

“My academy has produced national gold medalists and South Asian champions,” Najmullah said adding that seven of his students are part of the current national team.

Thousands of kids are playing Wushu in different academies of Peshawar. The popularity of the game could easily be seen by the presence of local Wushu teams in all 35 districts of KP.

“In 2018-19, I won a gold medal for my country during a series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in kickboxing,” he said.

As China offers scholarships to Pakistani students studying in China, similar support is also needed in the field of games to ensure the nation’s healthy and strong future, according to Najmullah.