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SINGAPORE: Nearly 2,700 residents in the North West District set a record for the largest mass qigong display at Woodlands Stadium on Sunday.
The huge turnout broke last year's record held by Ayer Rajah-West Coast Constituency Sports Clubs, where close to 770 people performed qigong together.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and other MPs were among the 2,698 people gathered at the field at Woodlands Stadium as early as 7am to perform qigong, an exercise that combines slow, graceful movements and controlled breathing techniques.
Their performance made it into the Singapore Book of Records as the largest qigong display.
Qigong is one activity the North West Community Development Council (CDC) has been promoting to encourage a healthy lifestyle. The others include swimming, brisk walking and aerobics.
Mayor of North West District, Dr Teo Ho Pin, said: "We started about two years ago, partnering the Qigong Shi Ba Shi Association...now (there are) about 35 clubs with 3,100 members."
Dr Teo said he hopes to expand the number of clubs to about 60 by March 2011.
He added: "We have actually been identifying activities that can reach out to all age groups. Qigong is quite similar to brisk walking. Qigong has a very easy entry in terms of learning the qigong skills, so a lot of people find it easy to pick up."
Qigong display participant Wong Si Yong said: "I was very weak at first, before I joined this activity. After I joined this for about four years, I become stronger in my stamina. I prefer doing it with my family."
There are also plans to train a pool of qigong instructors to reach out to more people.
- CNA/ir
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