A former president of the Nigeria Wushu-Kungfu Federation (NWKF), Ojo Adelusi, has urged the National Sports Commission to include the sport in the 2014 National Sports Festival (NSF) in Calabar.

Adelusi told newsmen last Tuesday in Lagos that exclusion of the sport at the 18th edition of the fiesta in Lagos in 2012 demoralised the practitioners.

According to him, Nigeria as one of the 148 member-nations of the International Wushu-Kungfu Federation (IWKF) could grow the sport by featuring it in the sports festival.

“As I am talking to you, nothing less than 148 countries of the world have this sport and all is preparing to have it included as an Olympic sport.

“I do not see the reason Nigeria should be left out in getting prepared for this multi-medals sports,” he said.

The vice-president of African Wushu-Kungfu Federation (AWKF) added that the sport had spread across the globe and the country had to join.

“Wushu-Kungfu is well spread in the world, in fact, I have not seen the reason for its non-inclusion in the Brazil 2016 Olympics.

“We will do ourselves good by allowing the game to feature in our major competitions because the exclusion at the last festival discouraged the coaches and athletes,” he said.

Adelusi boasted that the sport which had not less than 39 medals in competitions would not fail to make the country proud at international meets once it was given recognition.

The International Wushu-Kungfu (IWUF) has been trying to push Wushu to become a demonstration or even a medal event at the Olympic Games since 1992.