Local Sanshou fighter Samir Furqan will begin his quest for a medal at this year’s Junior World Wushu Championships in Macau, China today when he faces Turkey’s Mustafa Korkusuz in his opening match.The 18-year-old Cedarbridge Academy student is competing in the 56kg division where he will come up against the world’s elite Sanshou fighters at this level.Furqan, the first Bermudian to appear at the Junior World Wushu Championships, tipped the scale at 55.03kg at yesterday’s official weigh in.To enhance his chances of success the Pan American Junior Wushu Championship bronze medallist underwent a rigorous week of training under the direction of Chinese national Sanshou coach Master Genxue Zhang in Xian, China.“I hope that I am able to use the tools that I learned in Xian, stay on my feet and hopefully come out the victor,” a confident Furqan told The Royal Gazette. “I feel more confident since I’ve had more training in Xian. I feel like I can take on every country and win a gold medal for Bermuda.“I definitely think the training in China has paid off. I have more breeze so I will be able to last longer in the fight and have gained more strength so I will be able to take on my opponents with more ease. Mentally I feel like I can take on every country with ease.”Sanshou or san da is a martial art developed by the Chinese military based upon the study and practices of traditional Kung Fu and modern combat fighting techniques.Furqan has been fighting in full contact for the past three years. During this period he has fought five fights against physically superior and older opponents.So far this year the teenager has endured mixed fortunes in the ring. He recorded a first round TKO against Canada’s Shayne Dejardais in March on local soil but suffered a technical knockout against the physically superior Jo Monk at July’s International Chinese Martial Arts Championships in Orlando, Florida.Accompanying Furqan to China are head coach and Bermuda Sanshou Association president Garon Wilkinson, assistant coach Sentwali Woolridge and team manager Talia Iris.Wilkinson, Woolridge and Iris also trained under Master Zhang in Xian last week.Master Zhang extended an invitation for local Sanshou fighters to train with him in China after being impressed by Bermuda’s solid showing at last year’s Senior World Wushu Championships in Ankara, Turkey where Jermal Woolridge won the Island’s first medal (bronze) competing in the men’s Sanshou +90 division.