Indonesia will host the world junior wushu championships next month in Bali Island, a paper said today.

More than 54 countries and regions are expected to participate in the event from Dec. 7 to 14. Medals will be offered in 22 events.

"There will be more participants in Bali than they had in Beijing two years ago when only 40 countries took part," IGK Manila, chairman of the organizing committee quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.

"Hopefully the event will be a chance to rehearse ahead of the 2009 SEA (Southeast Asian) Games in Laos and 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou," he said. According to deputy chairman of the Indonesian Wushu Association, Agus Susanto, Indonesia will field 8sanshou and 11 taulo athletes. The sanshou athletes have been preparing in Surabaya since September, while the taulo group has made Medan their training camp, under the supervision of a Chinese coach.