Wushu exponent Jack to pack it in
WUSHU exponent Loh Jack Chang will retire from the national team without a single Asian Games medal to show.
The 31-year-old bowed out of the Asiad campaign after finishing 10th in the men’s tajijiian and taijiquan all-round competition in Kemayoran yesterday.
Jack Chang, still weakened from food poisoning two days earlier, scored 9.68 for his taijijian (taiji sword) routine but it was still not good enough to push him into medal contention.
The Malaysian wushu team finished empty handed for the second straight Asian Games.
For the record, Malaysia won a gold medal at the last Games in Icheon through Tai Cheau Xuen in women’s nanquan but the gold medal was returned for a doping offence.
Jack Chang, a double gold medallist at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last year, is sticking to his decision to quit at the end of the year and will not make another attempt at the next Asiad in Hangzhou, China, in 2022.
“I’ll compete in the World Taijiquan Championships in Bulgaria next month and that will be my last international competition,” said Jack Chang.
“I’ve stayed long enough in the national team and it’s time to give room to the younger ones to come up.
“I tried my best to pull myself up today but it’s not enough. I made a mistake in taijiquan the day before and it affected my overall scores.
“I’m fated not to win a medal at the Asian Games and I’ll try my best to get something in Bulgaria after this,” said Jack Chang, who finished out of the medals in Guangzhou (2010) and Incheon (2014).