Wushu gives Myanmar first
gold in Busan

Khaing Khaing Maw broke Myanmar's gold medal drought on Saturday with a title in women's taijiquan, part of the wushu martial arts competition, among the most unusual events of the Asian Games.

Her total score of 18.96 points in combined taijiquan points topped silver medallist Li Fai of Hong Kong and third-place Singaporean Liew Yin Yin.

Based on Buddhist training methods, many Asians practice wushu in parks or at work as a way of relaxing and focusing the mind.

Introduced as an official event at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, wushu -- or kung fu -- has hand-to-hand and non-combat forms. Routines are performed solo or in groups, either barehanded or with traditional Chinese weapons.

Impoverished and isolated Myanmar are 24th in the medals table among the 44 countries and territories competing in Pusan, with one gold, five silvers and five bronzes.