STORY: Int'l martial arts practitioners shine at competition in N China
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 23, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 24, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:52
LOCATION: CANGZHOU, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various aerial shots of Cangzhou
2. various of the competition
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANDREEV ANTON, Russian martial arts practitioner
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): RUSLAN ASYANOV, Russian martial arts practitioner
5. various of martial arts practitioners in the competition
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MIN THANT NAUNG, Myanmar martial arts practitioner
7. various of Min practicing martial arts
8. various of martial arts practitioners in Cangzhou
9. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): PAOLO CHILELL, Italian martial arts practitioner
10. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): HIMA OUMAROU SOULEYMANE, Nigerien martial arts practitioner
11. various of Hima practicing martial arts

STORYLINE:

The 11th China Cangzhou International Wushu Competition kicked off in Cangzhou on Friday.

4,800 competitors and coaches from around the world are participating in the competition.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANDREEV ANTON, Russian martial arts practitioner
"I will take part in the Baji boxing and the Qilin Dao (sword). My greatest hope (is) that I can show all that I can (do). Now we have something about 20 people from Russia. (Their age range) is from 8 years to 60 years. Chinese martial arts is very popular in Russia. We have many enthusiasts in our country. So it's a really big gift for us to have a part in this tournament."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): RUSLAN ASYANOV, Russian martial arts practitioner
"I've been practicing Chinese martial arts for 20 years. I'm gonna do Baji boxing. I'm expecting to have a great time here because I see a lot of honorable people and very famous people who are practicing Chinese martial arts and I'm really proud to be a part of it."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MIN THANT NAUNG, Myanmar martial arts practitioner
"My part is Tai Chi 24 Form. When I was young, I wanted to be a martial artist. Now I am in China, the dream has come true. So I can learn and I can use the martial arts."

Cangzhou is known as the "hometown of martial arts" in China. The city has built an international training base of Baji boxing. It's also running non-profit training courses and hosting exchange programs for martial arts fans.

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): PAOLO CHILELL, Italian martial arts practitioner
"After I moved to China, here I had the opportunity to also study Tai Chi and Wing Chun. I like the idea that so many people continue to practice."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): HIMA OUMAROU SOULEYMANE, Nigerien martial arts practitioner
"I've been practicing martial arts for ten years. I hope to bring Chinese martial arts to Niger after graduation and teach many young people about it."

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