STORY: Chinese coach leads Brunei wushu team to win historic silver at Asian Games
DATELINE: Sept. 28, 2023
LENGTH: 0:02:21
LOCATION: HANGZHOU, China
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Hangzhou Asian Games-related footage
2. STANDUP (English): WU YAO, Xinhua correspondent
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LI HUI, Head coach of Brunei National Wushu Team
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BASMA LACHKAR, Bruneian Taijiquan athlete
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): BASMA LACHKAR, Bruneian Taijiquan athlete
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LI HUI, Head coach of Brunei National Wushu Team

STORYLINE:

STANDUP (English): WU YAO, Xinhua correspondent
"At the Hangzhou Asian Games, Brunei has won a historic Asiad silver medal. The honor was secured by Basma Lachkar in the Taijiquan and Taijijian All-Round event this past Sunday. And behind this breakthrough, is the dedication of a Chinese coach spanning 17 years."

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LI HUI, Head coach of Brunei National Wushu Team
"I was really excited at that time (after winning the medal) because, after nearly 15 or 16 years of training, we've finally managed to win this medal at a major competition. It was truly not easy. This is also the best achievement in Brunei's history, whether in martial arts or other events, at the Asian Games. So this time, martial arts made history for Brunei with a silver medal."

Li arrived in Brunei in 2006 as part of a wushu demonstration team. 

Impressed by the display, Brunei's representatives approached Li to establish a wushu program in the country and lead it as the head coach. 

Twenty-year-old Lachhar is one of the best athletes on Li's team. 

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BASMA LACHKAR, Bruneian Taijiquan athlete
"I feel really honored to be participating in this competition (in Hangzhou). But to win a medal for the country is another story. It's something that I can not imagine and it's really unexpected for our country. I'm really honored to be the first (Bruneian) to get a silver medal in wushu for the Asian Games."

Lachhar has been practicing martial arts for around 10 years, first under Li's direct guidance, and later under another female coach. 

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): BASMA LACHKAR, Bruneian Taijiquan athlete
"(Coach Li) he is always teaching us with full passion and he always keeps an eye on us. As years went by, I met Coach Zhao (Chunjie) that's when I started Taiji with her.
I feel like we developed this good relationship together and they're basically like my second parents. I really appreciate having this kind of relationship with them because it's really rare."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LI HUI, Head coach of Brunei National Wushu Team
"Martial arts originated in China, but it belongs to the world. Through martial arts, people from diverse backgrounds, including Africa, Asia, and Europe, come together to exchange ideas. By practicing martial arts, we all develop a cultural understanding of it. Martial arts play a significant role in promoting interaction among athletes, and enhancing friendly exchanges between the Bruneian and the Chinese people."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hangzhou, China.
(XHTV)