Show of mental strength
Diana stays focused to win women’s nanquan gold
NATIONAL wushu exponennt Diana Bong’s mother, Mary Liuu, came all the way from Kuching, Sarawak, to watch her perform in a competition for the first time but could not get in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre as it was alreadyy packed.
But Diana did not let it get to her. She made sure she stayed fully focused to storm to victory in the women’s nanquan (barehands) and completed a stunning threegold haul for Malaysia on the first day of the SEA Games wushu competition at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) yesterday.
Diana flexed her way to 9.66 points to nail the nation’s third gold.
“My mother wanted to see me perform. She has never watched me all this while that I have been with the national team. But she couldn’t get into the venue as it was already full. She watched it on TV.
“But it’s OK. I have another event (women’s nandao and nangun combined). I was 200% focused on my performance as I wanted to make sure I got the gold in my own country. I also have tto thank the crowd for the good suupport for our team,” said the 3131yearold team captain.
Yeap Wai Kin had earlier upset teammate and Asian champion Wong Weng Son to give Malaysia their first gold in the men’s jianshu in the morning before Loh Jack Chang bagged the second from the men’s taijijian (taiji sword).
Jack Chang, who is an MBA graduate from Sarawak and, amassed 9.66 points to finish ahead of Indonesian Bobie Valentinus Gunawan (9.65) and Singapore’s Chan Jun Kai (9.62).
Two more silvers from Phoon Eyin (women’s jianshu) and Loh Ying Ting (women’s gunshu) completed the most productive day for Malaysia in a SEA Games wushu competition.
Diana is now Malaysia’s most successful female wushu exponent after claiming her fourth Games gold in six appearances.
She won the nanquan and nandao combined event in her Games debut in Thailand 2007 and the nangun and nandao combined event in Laos two years later. She managed a bronze in Indonesia 2011 and bagged her third gold in nanquan at Myanmar 2013. Diana finished out of the medals in Singapore two years ago.
Jack Chang was happy to improve on the silver he won in the same event in Singapore.
“I have won the taijiquan gold twice (Laos 2009 and Singapore 2015) but never in taijijian.
“This win means a lot to me as it may be my last SEA Games. I’ll probably make a decision on my future by the end of this year,” said the 30yearold.