CHENGDU, July 29 (Xinhua) — China’s Cao Maoyuan dominated the lads’s Nanquan of Wushu match with 9.770 factors, pocketing the primary gold of the Chengdu Universiade within the Chengbei Gymnasium in Chengdu, southwestern China on Saturday.
Huan Jinwei, Cao’s first coach, congratulated him through video name after his rating was disclosed. “You have paid so much efforts over the past two decades, and you deserve the honor. Congratulations!”
Cao replied with a fist palm salute, together with his eyes stuffed with tears, which shaped a stark distinction with the composed younger man impressing judges and viewers with lovely muscle tissue, fast fists and highly effective howl.
“It’s hard to find a word to describe what Wushu means to me. It’s an indispensable part of my life, and it has changed the fate of my family,” stated the 26-year-old, who was additionally certainly one of torchbearers of the occasion held in his hometown.
Born in a village of Weiyuan County, Neijiang City in Sichuan, Cao has engaged in working towards Wushu since he was 5 years previous. Like many boys, the primary time he discovered Wushu was from movies starred by Jet Li and Jackie Chan.
“When I was a boy, I dreamed I could be a master of martial arts, leaping onto roofs and vaulting over walls,” recalled Cao.
Cao’s father is a truck driver. When Cao accompanied his father to repair the truck, he discovered a boy in storage was working towards Wushu, which deeply attracted him. Supported by his mother and father, he went to study Wushu in a sports activities faculty within the county.
The sports activities faculty was removed from his house, so he needed to take a bus on a regular basis. During the method, he steadily advanced from a chubby boy to a youngster of excellent form, and the coach believed he was extraordinarily proficient.
His mother and father determined to maneuver to the county, the place Cao might study Wushu higher. But with low revenue, they needed to lease a small home, and transfer round steadily, however the efforts had been paid off, as Cao gained a bronze medal in his first competitors when he was six years previous.
In the following competitions, his expertise proved evident and his identify was effectively heard on the game in Sichuan.
In 2007, Cao was hit by a damage inflicted afer falling off the panel in warm-up, which left a protracted wound on his head. His mother and father and the physician requested him to surrender the upcoming match, however he insisted to complete the competition and surprisingly gained the gold, which influenced lengthy in Cao’s life.
“It has been encouraging me these years,” Cao recalled. “I really want to say ‘thank you’ to the boy who didn’t give up. Since then, I have always put 100 percent efforts in doing things well regardless of the outcome. If you retreat, there will be no result and no hope.”
Talent, disciplined coaching and arduous work has earned Cao an impressive place amongst his friends.
“He learned much more quickly than other students, so he paid less time in practicing, and it resulted in his unstability in competitions,” stated Yu Bo, his present coach.
Having ups and downs for round two years, Cao has managed to start out from scratch. He has change into extra affected person and composed, and paid extra consideration to every motion.
“There is no fight in Wushu Taolu, and other athletes are not my opponents. I have only one opponent now – myself.”
Cao typically turns to music when he’s not in temper. His favourite singer is Jay Chou, whose posters had been in all places in his room, and he himself likes guitar enjoying and singing.
Cao admires Chen Lijun, weightlifting gold medalist on the Tokyo Olympics, loads. “I was moved by his experience. When he won the gold, my eyes were filled with tears. Many athletes have experienced injuries and sicknesses, not every one of them could overcome it, but Chen did. His spirit of never giving up has been encouraging me.”
Cao believes the gold medal from Universiade means a brand new begin. “The event is a platform for showcasing Chinese martial art. I hope Wushu can be better known and practiced by more people worldwide through my performance,” he stated.