The 2014 National Wushu Championships jumpstarted yesterday at the indoor hall of the Olympic Stadium with a marked decrease in the number of participants compared to last year’s edition.

130 males and 80 females from eight clubs and associations nationwide have registered to compete this year, down from 196 males and 123 females from 13 clubs last time out.

Cambodian Wushu Federation general secretary Mao Chanta Vuth pointed to numerous reasons for the decline in numbers.

“One of the clubs’ chief is sick, other club chiefs are busy with their work in the provinces and some clubs are moving location.

Which means they are all not able to prepare themselves for the competition on time,” he said yesterday.