Northeastern players prepare for World Wushu Championship

Imphal (Manipur) [India], July 21 (ANI): India's northeast region has produced tons of achievers in the field of sports and made the country proud at many international arenas. NG Toshibala, a Wushu player from Manipur, is among 46 Wushu players being trained at the Rajiv Gandhi High Altitude Centre. "High altitude is very good because here the oxygen percentage is very low and if we practiced frequently, we accustomed ourselves with the weather. So to practice in high altitude will boost our stamina level even in the ground level," Toshibala said. Currently, working as a supervisor at the state's Social Welfare Department, Toshibala returned to the sport after a hiatus of three years. There has been no turning back for her ever since. She went on to win many medals, including a silver medal in Women's Changquan event at the first ever BRICS Games in China 2017. Fourteen young players from northeast region have been undergoing trainings. The players are being trained under five national coaches and on various forms in the art of Wushu which includes kickboxing, taichi and taolu movements and various other grappling techniques. Y. Sanathoi Devi, Arjun Awardee and Wushu player from Manipur said, "After this training, we would be sent to China for the International camp by the Indian Sports Federation. And moreover we have been trained well by our coaches for the upcoming World Championship in Russia this year." "Through Wushu, many youths have joined various Indian Army forces and whoever does play well are being recognized and get government jobs. I would like to tell to the youth of our region to practice well and we ensure to strive harder to enter into the Olympics Games 2020. The 46 campers that included 40 players, five coaches and one physio were shortlisted for the forthcoming 14th World Wushu Championship at Kazan in Russia to be held from September 25 to October 4, 2017. (ANI)