CHEONG MIN GETS CHANCE TO STRUT HER STUFF AT WORLD MEET

KUALA LUMPUR: Youngster Tan Cheong Min (pic) is going places. After a historic silver-medal outing for Malaysia at the World University Games in Taipei, Taiwan, last month, the 18-year-old has been selected for the World Wushu Championships in Kazan, Russia.

Cheong Min was picked over the more experienced Diana Bong and Tai Cheau Xuen to compete in the women’s nanquan (barehands), nangun (cudgel) and nandao (broadsword) events.

Diana was the only woman gold medallist in wushu for Malaysia when she won the nanquan event at the KL SEA Games last month.

Sarawak-born Cheong Min, a multiple world and Asian junior champion, did not compete in the KL SEA Games but she made the nation proud by bagging silver in the nanquan combined events at the World University Games.

Phoon Eyin, Loh Ying Ting and Audrey Chan Yee Jo are the other women exponents selected for the world meet from Sept 27-Oct 3.

KL SEA Games gold medallists Loh Jack Chang, Yeap Wai Kin and Ho Mun Hua will vie for glory in the men’s category along with Wong Weng Son, who is the reigning Asian champion for jianshu (sword).

A country is only allowed to field a maximum of eight exponents in the biennial world meet.

National coach Lim Yew Fai has high hopes of Cheong Min making a good impression in world meet debut.

“We had our selection trials last week and she was very consistent. She gave the best performance among the three (including Diana and Cheau Xuen).

“Diana also has an injury, so we want her to rest,” said Yew Fai, who hopes that at least one of his exponents can get on the podium in Kazan.

“We do not have any targets for the team as they seldom compete in Europe. Most wushu competitions are in Asia, so this will be a good test for them. It will also be quite cold towards the end of the month, so their ability to adapt to the weather will also be a factor.”

At the last world meet in Jakarta, Indonesia, Malaysia finished with a 3-4-4 medal haul.