Participants perform during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Hungarian Wushu Championships in Fot, a small town in the Budapest region, Hungary, on Nov. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Hao)
BUDAPEST, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ranging in age from 8 to 78, a total of 152 participants showcased their passion for Wushu at the 2025 Hungarian Wushu Championships held in Fot, a small town in the Budapest region, on Saturday.
Istvan Varga, chairman of the Hungarian Wushu Federation, said the championships served as the finals of the two-legged ranking point competitions.
"Only the top performers from the two preliminary tournaments are invited to compete across six age groups in events, including traditional Taolu, traditional internal styles, traditional external styles, sanda, light sanda, and others. Their performances reflect the sound development of Wushu in Hungary," said Varga.
Istvan Varga, chairman of the Hungarian Wushu Federation, speaks to Xinhua during the event. (Xinhua/Chen Hao)
Hungary boasts a substantial community of Wushu enthusiasts. According to Varga, the federation oversees 44 branch associations, with approximately 20,000 registered members engaged in regular training, while many more practice Wushu for health, wellness, and leisure without formal registration.
"Wushu is not merely a sport; it is a door to Chinese culture. Through practicing, people gain deeper insights into cultural elements such as calligraphy, tea ceremony, and traditional Chinese medicine," he added.
Dora Timea Horvath in action during the match. (Xinhua/Chen Hao)
Twenty-year-old Dora Timea Horvath began practicing Wushu nine years ago. She has competed twice at the World Kungfu Championships in China.
"Wushu has made me feel stronger, both physically and mentally, and more confident. Several friends also started practicing Wushu because of me," said Horvath, who placed sixth at the World Kungfu Championships held in Emeishan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, last month.
"Wushu is beautiful. Practitioners excel at acrobatics and many other skills. It is always exciting to watch Wushu athletes compete," added the sophomore.
Domonkos Grof in action during the match. (Xinhua/Chen Hao)
Domonkos Grof, 25, began practicing Wushu at the age of 10. After graduation, he became a PE teacher at a primary school.
"I hope that one day, when I become more skilled and experienced, I will be able to teach my students Wushu as well," he said.
