Pretty Lindswell continues domination in taijiquan
INDONESIA’S Lindswell Kwok is not just a pretty face. She’s also one of the best in wushu.
Lindswell’s elegant routine was a class above her competitors’ as she claimed gold in the women’s taijiquan with 9.68 points at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) yesterday.
Agatha Wong of the Philippines took the silver with 9.65 and Malaysian Audrey Chan Yee Jo the bronze with 9.64.
This is Lindswell’s fourth straight SEA Games gold since Jakarta 2011.
The 25-year-old exponent, who is from Medan, surprisingly revealed that she did not enjoy practising wushu at first.
She was only nine when older brother Iwan helped her pick up changquan – a fast and forceful form of wushu.
“My coach Supandi Kusuma said I was too soft. I was only a kid then and I did not like wushu because there was so much discipline involved.
“But I switched to taiji, a slower form of wushu, and I began to enjoy it more. I began to observe and learn from my seniors as I got older.
“This win is all the more sweeter for me as I’m coming back from a knee injury,” said Lindswell, who has won the world title three times in a row.
Her eyes lit up at the mention of the Asian Games next year. That’s because Indonesia will be hosting the Asiad and Lindswell can’t wait to perform in front of her home fans.
“That’s my next ambition. I won a silver at the last Asian Games in South Korea three years ago. I hope to get the gold this time,” she said.
Indonesia enjoyed a good day yesterday when they bagged another wushu gold.
Felda Elvira Santoso and Monica Pransisca Sugianto gave Indonesia a onetwo finish in the women’s daoshu (broadsword), scoring 9.67 and 9.66.