On the evening of May 12, the 11th Sanda World Cup opened at the Grand Lisboa Hotel in Macao, China.
IWUF Vice President Sherif Mostafa, IWUF Vice President and President of the Wushu General Association of Macau Chan Weng Kit, Director of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region Wan Sucheng, IWUF Secretary General Zhang Yuping, Acting President of the Macao SAR Government Sports Bureau Lei Si Leng, Head of Tourism Product and Events Department of the Macao SAR Government Tourism Office Ip Weng San, Acting Head of Department of the Macao SAR Government Education and Youth Development Bureau Lei Im Kei, IWUF Treasurer Ang Mong Seng, IWUF Executive Board Members Mahdi Alinejad, Julian Camacho, Chong Kim Fatt, Marcus Alves, and other guests attended the opening ceremony. Top sanda athletes, judges’ representatives and event organizing team members from 21 countries and regions around the world witnessed the official opening of the event.
In his speech, IWUF Vice President Sherif Mostafa expressed sincere gratitude to the Macao SAR Government Sports Bureau and the Wushu General Association of Macao for their strong support and great commitment. He noted that Macao has demonstrated exceptional organizational capability and a deep wushu heritage. The hosting of this edition of the Sanda World Cup in Macao is not only a renewed partnership with this charming city, but also a vivid reflection of wushu's global progress. He encouraged all athletes to uphold the spirit of wushu, compete with style and skill, and build friendships through wushu, so that wushu culture may shine through exchange and mutual learning.
Chan Weng Kit, President of the Wushu General Association of Macau, delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the organizing committee, extending a sincere welcome to all athletes and guests from various countries and regions, and expressing heartfelt gratitude to the International Wushu Federation, the Macao SAR Government Sports Bureau, all sponsors, and all staff members.
He stated that the organizing committee would provide meticulous services and comprehensive support to create a professional, safe, fair, just, and open competition environment, offering an international stage for global sanda elites to showcase their talents, exchange skills, and enhance friendship. He wished all guests an enjoyable experience in Macau, a city where Eastern and Western cultures blend harmoniously.
Athlete representative Un Iat Wai and judge representative Joanna Monika stepped onto the stage and took the oath on behalf of all athletes and judges, making a solemn commitment: to uphold sportsmanship, abide by the competition rules, and fulfill their duties in both competition and officiating with fairness and impartiality.
Organizing Committee Chairman Chan Weng Kit presented souvenirs of this year's World Cup to IWUF Executive Board Member Mahdi Alinejad and Acting Director of the Macao SAR Government Sports Bureau Lei Si Leng, respectively.
Subsequently, the main guests took a group photo and attended the toast ceremony together. IWUF Secretary General Zhang Yuping declared the event open.
A spectacular wushu performance was also arranged on site. All participants and guests enjoyed Macau's signature cuisine, interacted with one another, and the atmosphere was warm and joyful.
The 11th Sanda World Cup, hosted by the International Wushu Federation and organized by the Wushu General Association of Macau, will be held from May 13 to 15 at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion in Macao, China. As the world’s highest-level wushu sanda event held for the first time in Macau, China, it has attracted 110 participants from 21 countries and regions. Among them, nearly 60 athletes will compete across 17 weight categories — 11 for men and 6 for women — with a total of 17 gold medals to be awarded.
