Wushu wonders
Choon How and Jun Lim strike gold at World University C’ship
PETALING JAYA: Loh Choon How and Khaw Jun Lim raised double cheers for Malaysia with golden strikes in the World University Wushu Championship in Macau.
Choon How delivered the first gold for Malaysia when he chalked up 9.47 points for his performance in the men’s taijiquan yesterday.
Taiwanese Kuo Po-chun took silver (9.40) while the bronze went to Japan’s Ryo Murakami (9.38).
The 24-year-old Choon How’s breakthrough will be a relief to the national wushu team as it is the best indication that he is ready to take over from senior Loh Jack Chang as the flagbearer for men’s taiji discipline.
The 31-year-old Jack Chang has already stated that he intends to retire after the Asian Games in Jakarta later this month.
Fellow national exponent Jun Lim followed up quickly with the second gold medal for Malaysia in the men’s daoshu (sword).
Jun Lim came out tops with 9.53 points to earn his first win at a major competition.
Sergei Badrutdinov placed second (9.42) while Lin Yi-zhe of Taiwan had the bronze (9.23).
It is the second medal in the championship for Jun Lim as he took silver in the men’s changquan earlier. He scored 9.45 points to place second behind the winner Li Wangzhen of China (9.52).
Aggie Cheah also delivered a silver for Malaysia yesterday in the women’s qiangshu (spear).
The 2015 Singapore SEA Games gold medallist exponent scored 9.29 points to place second behind Honda Ayaka of Japan (9.40).
Malaysia also have two bronze medals from Aggie in women’s changquan (9.20) and Sydney Chin in women’s taijiquan (9.30) after three days of competition.