Malaysia’s wushu squad returns empty-handed

JAKARTA: Wushu squad ended their 2018 Asian Games campaign without winning any medals.

This was a repeat of their medalless outing in the 2014 edition in Incheon, South Korea which raised the question whether the squad should be dropped from category A (expenses fully borne) list in future tournaments.

The team was sent to the Asian Games with the target of two medals by the Olympic Council of Malaysia.

This was acknowledged by the Wushu Federation of Malaysia president Datuk Chong Kim Fatt who apologised for Malaysia's fai lure to win any medal in Jakarta.

“We will think of a solution to restore the image of this sport and what I can suggest at the moment is that the association should work closely with the Youth and Sports Ministry for the good of the sport in the longterm,” Chong said when met by Malaysian reporters after the squad's last event.

Only Tan Cheong Min and Phoon Eyin gave the best performance after finishing fourth respectively in the combined Nanquan and Nandao events as well as in Jianshu and Qiangshu.

Wong Weng Son, 2017 world champion, also failed to meet expectations when he only finished ninth out of 17 participants in the men's Changquan event.

Loh Jack Chang, who made his last appearance at the Asian Games, finishing 10th out of 16 participants in the combined Taijiquan and Taijijian events today.

For the record, Malaysia's best performance was in the 2006 edition in Doha, Qatar, winning one gold through Chai Fong Ying and two bronze medals, contributed by Diana Bong and Ng Shin Yii. — Bernama