Bermuda’s Elite Wushu prospect is finalizing her preparations as the team gets set to depart for Tianjin, China, marking the island’s first appearance at the World Junior Wushu Championships in over a decade.
The four-person delegation, led by Bermuda Sanshou Association (BSA) President Garon Wilkinson, is scheduled to depart on March 21st for the tenth edition of the global showpiece. The team features rising star Geraldine Sidders, who will be supported by coaches Wilkinson and Kaelin Cox, alongside team manager Nolette Webb.
The championships, which run from March 26th to the 30th, represent a significant milestone for the local programme. It marks the first time a Bermudian athlete has competed at the Junior Worlds since Samir Furkan’s appearance in 2012, and importantly, the first time the island will be represented in the technical Taolu discipline.
Sidders will compete in the Group A Division (ages 15–17), taking on two high-stakes events: the Changquan (Long Fist) and the Gunshu (Staff). These specific categories carry added weight, as they serve as the qualifying events for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.
"This is the first time that Bermuda has been to the Junior World Wushu Championships since 2012," Wilkinson remarked, noting the development of the island's technical programme. "It's another mark in history with Bermuda being able to field our first athlete in the Junior World Wushu Championships, which is a testament to the success of our growing Taolu programme."
The team is expected to arrive in China on March 23rd, allowing for two days of official training and technical meetings before the opening ceremony on the 25th. Wilkinson extended credit to the dedicated coaching staff, including Cox and Jakai Burton, as well as international consultants who have contributed to Sidders’ rapid progression on the world stage.
Following the five-day competition in Tianjin, the BSA hopes that Sidders’ performance will be enough to confirm her spot for Senegal later this year, further cementing Bermuda's rising status in the global martial arts community.
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