Yew Fai’s plan of fielding rookies in Wushu backfires

LIM Yew Fai has no regrets over his first assignment as a coach at the

Asian Games although his gamble to field new faces was an epic failure.

Malaysian wushu finished without a medal for the second time in the Asiad.

The team arrived in Jakarta with medal expectations although five out of the seven exponents were competing for the first time.

But in the end, only Tan Cheong Min and Phoon Eyin came closest to finish fourth overall in the respective women’s nanquan and nandao all-round and jianshu and qiangshu all-round events.

A mistake in her landing in nandao killed off Cheong Min’s hopes of securing silver to make up for the disappointment of Tai Cheau Xuen’s campaign at the last Asiad in Incheon, South Korea, four years ago.

Then, Cheau Xuen came out tops in the nanquan and nandao all-round but had to return the gold medal later after a doping offence.

While Malaysia finished emptyhanded, hosts Indonesia earned their first-ever gold through Lindswell Kwok in the women’s taijiquan and taijijian all-round.

“I’m sorry that we could not get medals for Malaysia but I am not upset with my exponents as I know they have tried their best,” said former national exponent Yew Fai.

“Their performances were up to expectations. Our young exponent Calvin Lee scored 9.70 for nanquan and I think it was a very good score.

“The format of the Asian Games where you have to do well in two different events is what makes it hard to get a medal and our exponents will learn from this.

“We’ve to be optimistic that our young exponents can improve and do better in the future.

“I’m also learning with them as this is the first time that I’ve brought a team to the Asian Games.

“We’ll go back and review the areas where we can improve. Planning must start now for the next Asian Games in 2022 (Hangzhou).”