Best friends Wai Kin and Weng Son in 1-2 finish
THEY are the best of friends, train together and simply adore Hong Kong action movie star Jet Li.
And yesterday they gave Malaysia a scintillating start in wushu with a 12 finish, with Yeap Wai Kin stealing the show from his more illustrious teammate Wong Weng Son in the men’s jianshu (sword) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).
Wai Kin took the gold with 9.67 points while Weng Son, who is in the elite Podium Programme, settled for the silver with 9.65 points. Singapore’s Fung Jin Jie was third with 9.48 points.
Weng Son, the 2016 Asian Championships and World Cup gold medallist in jianshu, performed first and held the lead until Wai Kin took to the mat.
It is the first gold for the Penangborn 24yearold Wai Kin in four Games appearances and he was delighted to finally get his act right. He only has a silver to show from the Jakarta Games in 2011.
“I failed to get any medal in my last two Games and to win gold at home is just great.
“A onetwo in jianshu for the country is rare and wonderful.
“I’m happy my best friend is also on the podium. We prepared really well this time. We trained together and are good friends, so there is very little that separates us in terms of our performance.
“We still have one more event tomorrow (today) in the qiangshu (spear) and it will be another good fight,” said Wai Kin, who also won two silvers at the 2013 World Championships in Kuala Lumpur.
Wai Kin revealed that he was inspired to take up wushu when he was only eight after watching Jet Li’s movies.
“I used to watch a lot of Jet Li movies and learned the moves. He is the reason why I picked up an interest in wushu. My father, who practised traditional wushu, also encouraged me a lot,” he said.
Weng Son, of Negri Sembilan, was not disap pointed with his silver.
“I’m happy my good friend won the gold. The most important thing is that the gold did not go to another country.
“I gave it my best and am happy with the scores. I’m confident of my chances in the second event (qiangshu) tomorrow (today),” said the 25yearold Weng Son.
Malaysia also bagged two silvers through Loh Ying Ting and Phoon Eyin.
Ying Ting got her first Games medal after scoring 9.63 points in the women’s gunshu (cudgel) to finish behind Vietnam’s Hoang Thi Phuong Giang (9.64).
Indonesian Freida Elvira Santoso took the bronze with 9.62 points.
Eyin settled for her second straight silver in the Games with 9.63 points in the women’s jianshu, which saw Vietnam getting their second gold through Duong Thuy Vi (9.67).
Singapore’s Fung Hui Xin was third with a 9.60 total.