Nigerian athletes have won cash prizes and secured 15 trophies at the recently concluded 2025 Chinese Ambassador’s Cup, also known as the Wushu Championship, which took place at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja at the weekend.
The Wushu Championship featured five competition segments, with cash prizes of N500,000 for gold, N300,000 for silver, and N200,000 for bronze.The three-day tournament was organised by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria in collaboration with the National Sports Commission to promote sports ties.
In the Creative Form category, Henry Hendrix claimed the Gold trophy, while Emmanuel Udem and Taiwo Faboro took Silver and Bronze, respectively.
The Taolu Single segment crowned Justice Unaka as Gold champion, followed by Adeyonju Miracle with Silver and Esther Obaremi with Bronze.
In Taichi, Naima Sanusi emerged as the Gold winner, with Nasiru Umaru taking Silver, while Hendrix added a second medal, this time Bronze.
The competitive Male Sanda category saw Goodluck Emmanuel dominate, securing Gold, ahead of Kunle Awoyele, who earned Silver, and Tarkpe Stephen, who claimed Bronze.
In the Female Sanda category, Winifred Agara clinched Gold, while Mabel Aduotukeme and Mercy Joshua finished with Silver and Bronze, respectively.
During the grand finale, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, congratulated the athletes and reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening cultural and sports cooperation with Nigeria.
“Wushu is a precious treasure of Chinese culture. It builds our bodies, shapes our character and spirit, and teaches self-discipline, respect, and compassion. We are delighted to see Wushu take root and flourish in Nigeria.
Today’s event reflects the passion of Nigerian enthusiasts and the strong bonds between our two peoples,” he said.
Yu also highlighted the significance of Wushu as a vehicle for implementing the 2023 Global Civilization Initiative and advancing outcomes of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
He announced that Wushu will feature as an event at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games, encouraging Nigerian athletes to pursue excellence and represent the country on the global stage.
“This championship offers a platform not only to compete but also to embody friendship and cultural understanding,” he added.
Yu reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Wushu development in Nigeria through training exchanges and partnerships.
“We will work with the National Sports Commission and the local Wushu community to create more platforms for exchange and learning. We believe Wushu can serve as a window for more Nigerians to learn about China and as a bridge to deepen the friendship between our two nations. I also look forward to the day when more Nigerian Wushu enthusiasts will visit China, see famous sites like the Shaolin Temple, and experience for themselves the depth and beauty of Chinese Wushu culture,” Yu said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, commended the Embassy for sustaining the partnership and contributing to youth development.
“Wushu is gaining ground in Nigeria. With support from China, the sport is helping to create new pathways for young people to achieve their dreams,” he said.
“The growing popularity of Wushu in Nigeria has promoted its inclusion in the national sports festival and its potential to provide new opportunities for youth. The federal government is committed to developing a comprehensive sports ecosystem,” Dikko added.
