Jack Chang signs off with two golds

Jack Chang ended his illustrious career in style by winning two gold medals at the World Taijiquan Championships, in Burgas, Bulgaria yesterday.

The 31-year-old topped the 42movement taijiquan men’s elite category by scoring 9.12 points.

India’s Naokhomba Meitei won silver with a 9.10 total while Singapore’s Samuel Tan settled for bronze with 9.05 points.

Jack Chang also clinched the 42-movement taijijian (taiji sword) gold medal with 9.15 points.

Taiwan’s Chen Yu Wei took silver with a 9.05 series, followed by Hong Kong’s Pak Long Sat (8.90).

The achievement offered the Miri-born some consolation after he failed to win a medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta in August.

Jack Chang suffered a bout of food poisoning upon arrival in Jakarta and failed to rise to the occasion on competition day.

The exponent, who graduated with an MBA degree two years ago, has been in the national team for more than a decade and reached the height of his career when he bagged gold in the taijiquan event at the World Championships in Jakarta in 2015.

“It is the end of the road for me. I made up my mind before the Asian Games to retire after the World Taijiquan Championships.

“I hope my achievements will inspire the younger ones to come up and get better results.

“I may look for a job after this and perhaps get involved as a coach if there are opportunities,” added Jack Chang, also a double gold medallist at last year’s Kuala Lumpur Sea Games.