Wushu received a big boost in the quest to becoming an Olympic sport when International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach visited the Gaochun Gymnasium on Friday.

IOC president Thomas Bach presents the medals to the winners of the women's changquan event at the Gaochun Gymnasium on Friday. [Xinhua]

The International Wushu Federation (IWUF) has been campaigning hard for the last few years seeking Olympic status for wushu.

IWUF officials' hopes brightened when Bach agreed to present the medals to the winners of the women's changquan event at the Nanjing 2014 youth wushu tournament.

"Wushu is gaining popularity all over the world. We are very serious to see this sport at Olympics. And for that, we are aiming at wushu's inclusion in 2020 Olympic Games. The IOC president's visit is encouraging for us," said Ang Mong Seng, an IWUF executive board member.

Seng said as the sport is being practised not only in its birthplace China, but also in many other coutries worldwide, his federation has received some positive feedback from the IOC.

"We have received some good responses from the IOC, but we are still in the process of convincing it to give wushu Olympic status," said Seng. "Hopefully, we will see wushu at 2020 Olympics."

He believes the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing is a perfect opportunity for the young athletes to get the feel of Olympics.

"We had wushu at 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as non-competition sport, and now it is again a non-competition sport in Nanjing Games. It will give a good opportunity to the young athletes to be a part of the Games and prepare for the future."

Bach's presence was not only a boost for the top brass of the IWUF. Young wushu athletes competing at Gaochun Gymnasium were also hopeful of Olympic dreams one day coming true.

"I would like to see wushu at the Olympics as soon as possible so that I may also take part and become an Olympian," said Wu Zhong, the gold medallist in the men's changquan competition. "I am honored to become the first Chinese to win the wushu gold at this event which is a part of these Games."

Although wushu is not among the official competition sports at the Nanjing Games, it has been included as a non-competition sport by the organizers.

"I wish wushu to become an Olympic sport," said women's bronze medallist Liu Ting Ting of Chinese Taipei. "I feel so honored to shake hands with Thomas Bach that I will never wash my hands again."

Wu and Liu's views were shared by their western counterparts who are also anxious to see the sport make its Olympic debut.

"It is an exciting sport. You have got just one shot. It is like swimming. I want wushu to become an Olympic sport," said Wesley Hawkeen Huie from the United States, a bronze medallist in the men's changquan.

Another wushu athlete, American Emily Xinyu Fan said: "Wushu is an interesting and cultural sport and it needs to be at Olympics."

Other medallists on the day were Loh Ying Ting of Malaysia - gold in the women's changquan; Wei Ting Zoe Mui of Singapore - silver in the women's changquan; and Kelvin Young of Indonesia - silver in the men's changquan.

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