Sabah wushu juniors shine at National Talents Carnival
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah wushu junior exponents showed their prowess by returning with two golds, one silver and four bronzes in the first series of the National Talents Carnival in Shah Alam, Selangor over the weekend.
Javven Tsen Yu You of SJK (C) St James Kota Kinabalu and Audrey Ann Chong Rou En of SJK (C) Pui Gin, Sandakan won the gold for Sabah.
Javven achieved the feat in the male Group D (under 7-8) Changquan event while Audrey in the same age group for female Qiangshu event.
Layden Lim Zhi Jye of Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School (STTSS) won the silver in the male Group B (under 12-14) Gunshu competition.
The bronzes were from Cassandra Wong Ya Li of STTSS who won two of the medals in female Group B (under 1214) Taijiquan and Taijijian events; Claire Wilson of SJK (C) Kolombong Che Hwa in the female Group C (under 911) Jianshu event and Ellexa Evy Yosia of SJK (C) Tai Tong, Sandakan in the female Group D (under 7-8) Nanquan event.
Sabah Wushu Association (2017) secretary Lee Hon Yee said it was the first time the state had won wushu gold in the National Talents Carnival series.
“The association would like to thank MSN Sabah (Sabah Sports Council) for giving the opportunity as well as providing assistance for Sabah wushu to compete in the carnival.
“We are also very thankful the MSN Sabah officials cheered the team up during the competition,” said Lee in a statement yesterday.
According to him, the state wushu team that he led to the carnival comprised 13 athletes (six males and seven females) as well as MSN Sabah appointed coaches Lee Tsun Kee and Lim Shung Zer, who are based in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan respectively.
The wushu competition in the carnival, which attracted 151 athletes from around the country, is monitored by Wushu Federation of Malaysia (WFM) and Selangor Wushu Association.
The carnival also featured competitions for weightlifting, archery and table tennis.
Meanwhile, Lee said Sabah wushu will next focus on the national level KPM-WFM Youth Wushu Championship.
“The coaches Lee Tsun Kee and Lim Shung Zer will be tasked to select athletes from Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan respectively to represent Sabah in the national youth level championship,” Lee said.