Jia from Macao wins first gold at Beijing SportAccord Combat Games

Chinese Macau athlete Jia Rui won the first gold medal of the inaugural SportAccord Combat Games on Saturday.

Jia's performence envoked cheers and applause from the audience as well as the highest score in Men's Chang Quan event at 9.80 points. Japanese athlete Daisuke Ichikizaki took the silver and NG Say Yoke from Malaysia claimed the bronze.

"I enjoy the match here," Jia said. "I began learning Wushu when I was 7, so it's a part of my life now."

Jia has been training at Shichahai Sports School in Beijing. Unlike many others living in Macau, Jia can speak fluent Mandarin without Cantonese accent.

He said that it's important to learn Chinese culture well if one is about to get the "soul" of Wushu .

Thirteen International Sports Federations sent their world's top 20 athletes to Beijing. The Sportaccord Combat Games attracted more than 1,000 athletes to compete in 13 sports. The Games will run from Aug. 28 to Sept. 4.

Source: Xinhua