KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's wushu exponents could become medal prospects if the sport makes the 2032 Brisbane Olympics programme.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has included wushu, for the first time, in the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games (YOG), with a study of its inclusion for future Olympics.
Wushu appeared twice at the Olympics as an exhibition event in 1936 Berlin and 2008 Beijing.
Malaysian Wushu Federation (MWF) president Datuk Chong Kim Fatt is confident that the International Wushu Federation's (IWUF) initiatives will lead to the country chasing gold at the Olympics within the next eight years.
"For Brisbane 2032, we've been working hard, submitting our application to have wushu included as a new Olympic sport," said Chong Fatt who is also an IWUF executive board member.
"Nine sports have submitted their applications to be part of the 2032 Olympics and only five will make the Olympics.
"We are working closely with Beijing and Australia, and the feedback has been positive."
Malaysian wushu exponents have done well in major competitions at senior and junior levels.
Malaysia finished second with nine golds, 11 silvers and five bronzes overall at the World Junior Championships in Brunei, last month.
At the Asian Championships in Macau, last month, Malaysia finished third overall with three golds, two silvers, and three bronzes.
Meanwhile, the MWF has also received RM180,000 from the Youth and Sports Ministry's Community Sports Fund to run its talent identification programmes.