Two Montgomery students win medals for Team USA at World Kungfu Championships in China

Two students from Montgomery brought home medals for Team USA after competing at the 10th World Kungfu Championships in Emeishan, China.

The event, often called the “Kungfu Olympics,” is the world’s largest traditional kungfu competition and drew more than 5,000 athletes from 54 countries.

Adam Chai and Ethan Chan,  both students at the Huaxia Chinese School at Montgomery, trained for six months under Coach Alex Ni to prepare for the international competition. With no dedicated training facility, the team practiced in indoor and outdoor community spaces, working through summer heat, autumn winds, rain, and mosquito bites.

Chai, who has eight years of wushu training, won silver medals in Pudao and Tongbei Fist. Chan, who has a background in Taekwondo and three years of wushu training, won gold in Nine-Section Whip and bronze in Drunken Fist.

Ni also competed in the adult division, earning silver in Drunken Fist and bronze in Drunken Sword.

Chai and Chan regularly perform demonstrations and free workshops at community events to promote Chinese kungfu culture.