Story contributed by reader Elaine Yu

Toa Payoh Sports Hall 2008, April 15, 2008 – The National Wushu Championships were held recently and Chung Cheng High (Main) were overall champions in the B Division Boys and C Division Girls categories while their B Division Girls came in 2nd overall.

Manjusri Secondary did well in this year’s group events although they did not win the overall championship. Their B Boys were strong nenough in the group weapon and group quan categories to beat rivals Chung Cheng High.

In the group quanshu competition, the Manjusri B boys team scored 8.06 to secure 3rd place while Chung Cheng High managed 8.03 for 4th. In the group weapon competition, Manjusri scored 8.21 to secure 2nd position while Chung Cheng High’s lost points when one student dropped his weapon. This cost Chung Cheng High a top four position.

In the girls’ championship, the B girls of Manjusri scored 7.86 to secure 3rd place for the group quanshu category. Rivals Chung Cheng High did not secure a top four position because one participant forgot her routine, costing them points.

For the group weapon category, Manjusri lost out on a top four place because one member dropped her weapon. Chung Cheng High scored 7.66 to win gold in the category. Controversy erupted in the group weapon category when Catholic High should have gotten a score of 8.40 as their standards were very high but the judges instead gave them a score of 8.20. When the judges showed the score, the whole stadium booed. The crowd were quite shocked at the result, and this was the first time a whole crowd was booing the judges.

This year, many competitors either forgot the routine or dropped their weapons. In one instance, a competitor’s broadsword fell part completely.