Death of D. S. Senanayake College student at Wushu contest....

Observers and parents charge judge not qualified

Ranjan ANANDAPPA

WUSHU: Veteran martial artist Gamini Rupasinghe, the Chief Instructor of Ga-Ru Karate Do Kodokan Judo Kai, counting 40 years experience in the field, says that combat tournaments in all forms of fighting from karate to wushu should not be permitted in schools.

Rupasinghe, who was commenting on the recent death of a wushu student from D.S.Senanayake College at a recent tournament following a blow from an opponent, said,"In fact, it is only the previous week I warned and highlighted the need against conducting combat tournaments among schools and now this unfortunate incident has happened.

Observers as well as parents who were present at the schools' wushu tournament have complained to the ministry that the judge for the contest was not qualified and had been appointed only after a crash course of one week. "This is absurd. The organisers have had little regard for the lives of students," said Anoma Perera, a mother of a student when contacted by the `Sunday Observer.'

From his vast experience Rupasinghe said that whatever form of combat should be observed only as a sport in disciplining schoolchildren and in developing spiritually which is the mind and body.

"Importantly, martial arts or wushu are forms of sport that inculcates character in students and it is distressing that such a combat tournament was conducted among schools that resulted in the death of a schoolboy.

"There is another casualty - a schoolboy still recuperating in hospital.

Rupasinghe is expected to attend a meeting convened by the minister to review the existing situation in ensuring the safety of martial artists. Following the death of the D. S. Senanayake wushu student, grave concern has been raised by the Education Ministry as to the suitability of judges appointed by the Wushu Federation and even parents have expressed fears as to the well-being of their children.