Chief referee from Shandong shines at Asian Games

Bu Naibin, an international A-level referee for the traditional martial art wushu sanda, has taken on the crucial role of head referee for the wushu sanda event of the 19th Asian Games.

The games opened on Sept 23 and will end at the close of Oct 8 in Hangzhou city in East China's Zhejiang province.

Wushu sanda is a fighting system based on traditional kung fu and modern combat techniques.

Bu Naibin (center) briefs some of his colleagues. [Photo by Shang He for chinadaily.com.cn]

In a recent telephone interview, Bu shared insights into his responsibilities and his expectations for the future of wushu or Chinese martial arts.

The 48-year-old referee, who hails from Yanggu county in East China's Shandong province, has been tirelessly working since Sept 21 to ensure the smooth operation of the wushu sanda competition.

As head referee, Bu emphasized the importance of his role in overseeing the entire competition and ensuring fairness, impartiality and accuracy.

Unlike regular referees, who focus on specific aspects of the competition, the head referee is accountable to all participating teams and athletes, making their sense of responsibility and professional ability crucial for the event's success.

The wushu sanda competition requires two groups of referees, with a total of approximately 15 referees. One group consists of six referees, including one in the center and five on the sides, to ensure comprehensive coverage and accurate judgments.

Coming from a county that has produced more than 10 national wushu champions, he hopes that young people will develop a closer connection with wushu, gaining a deeper understanding, love and dedication to preserving and inheriting the art of wushu. (Edited by Jin Yongxue)