Joshua hoping for a repeat of 2011 showing

JOSHUA Koh I-jie wants to relive the 2011 Sea Games where he ended Malaysia’s 22-year gold medal drought in fencing by capturing the men’s individual epee in Indonesia.

“I just want to do well at home, do my best and I’m confident that I can get the gold,” said Joshua yesterday.

Joshua, 27, was eliminated in the quarter-finals in the 2015 Games, losing 15-11 to Thailand’s Chamcharern Panthawit but said he is in much better shape for this year’s Kuala Lumpur edition.

“For a while, I was stagnant but I think I’ve improved a lot because of the disappointing result at the last Sea Games.”

Joshua came back from a back injury he sustained late last year during training to win gold at the Asian University Championship last February, and wants to continue that form despite having to face tough opponents from Vietnam and Singapore in the Sea Games.

This will be Joshua’s fourth Sea Games, having made his debut in 2007 in Korat.

As this year’s Games is in Kuala