STORY: Wushu gains popularity in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 17, 2024
DATELINE: Dec. 18, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:55
LOCATION: Dhaka
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of boys and girls practicing Wushu in Cox's Bazar district, Bangladesh
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Bengali): NUR BAHAR KHANOM PRIYA, Player of Bangladeshi women's national Wushu team
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Bengali): MOSHAMMAT SHIKHA KHATUN, Player of Bangladeshi women's national Wushu team
4. various of boys and girls practicing Wushu in Cox's Bazar district, Bangladesh
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Bengali): ANISUL ISLAM, Wushu coach in Cox's Bazar
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Bengali): SIDDIQUL ISLAM, Coach of Bangladeshi national Wushu team
7. SOUNDBITE 5 (Bengali): SHEIKH SELIM, General secretary of Cox's Bazar District Wushu Association
8. various of boys and girls practicing Wushu on the beach of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

STORYLINE:

In Cox's Bazar, some 400 km southeast of Bangladesh's capital Dhaka, Wushu has become a popular sport, particularly among school girls and boys, thanks to a handful of organizers.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Bengali): NUR BAHAR KHANOM PRIYA, Player of Bangladeshi women's national Wushu team
"Wushu has transformed me. I became deeply passionate about it. I first won a gold medal at the national level, then more national golds followed. Eventually, I achieved a gold medal at the international level. My dream is to compete in different countries, promote myself, and proudly raise my country's flag through Wushu."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Bengali): MOSHAMMAT SHIKHA KHATUN, Player of Bangladeshi women's national Wushu team
"My husband is also an international Wushu player and the national coach. I started practicing Wushu after watching him, and that's how my journey began. Together, we're working to learn Chinese martial arts and the Chinese language. I'm very proud to play Wushu and to be living proof that a woman can excel in this sport even after marriage."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Bengali): ANISUL ISLAM, Wushu coach in Cox's Bazar
"Cox's Bazar district is a fertile ground for producing Wushu players, with 15 to 20 international players and 50 to 60 national players from the area. We also have around 15 to 20 coaches, as well as South Asian and international judges. Our goal is to make Wushu more recognized worldwide, showcasing Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, and China as key contributors to its growth."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Bengali): SIDDIQUL ISLAM, Coach of Bangladeshi national Wushu team
"I am a coach of the Bangladesh national team, and I have achieved success through Wushu. Today, many boys and girls from Cox's Bazar district have transformed themselves by playing Wushu."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Bengali): SHEIKH SELIM, General secretary of Cox's Bazar District Wushu Association
"I have been working as a Wushu organizer for a long time. In Cox's Bazar district, there are thousands of Wushu students and over 10 instructors with their own clubs and organizations. We have established Wushu here so successfully that it has become widely recognized by the local community. Additionally, Wushu players from Cox's Bazar are excelling in other Chinese cultural events, such as lion dance, fire shows, and more."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Dhaka.
(XHTV)