Wushu redemption
Exponents make up for Asiad disaster by bagging four golds in Taolu W-Cup
The national wushu squad returned empty-handed from the Asian Games in August. Instead of wallowing in selfpity, the exponents continued to train and their hard work finally paid off. Yesterday, the team bagged four gold medals, one silver and one bronze at the Taolu World Cup in Yangon, Myanmar. Wong Weng Son and Phoon Eyin wowed the crowd with their superb sword and spear artistry by bagging two golds each. Tan Cheong Min delivered the silver and bronze medals to cap off a great achievement for Malaysia. > Report by LIM TEIK HUAT on
KUALA LUMPUR: Wushu exponents Wong Weng Son and Phoon Eyin capped a sensational outing for Malaysia by delivering two gold medals each at the Taolu World Cup in Yangon, Myanmar – to make up for their Asian Games meltdown.
Weng Son defended his gold in the men’s jianshu (sword) won at the inaugural edition in Fuzhou, China, in 2016, with 9.68 points.
The 26-year-old also landed his second gold in the prestigious meet yesterday with a flawless performance in the men’s qiangshu (spear) by scoring 9.67 points.
The reigning world champion for qiangshu was the first to perform and the remaining competitors failed to beat his score.
Tomoyo Okawa of Japan took the silver (9.65) while the bronze went to Indonesian Muhd Daffa Golden Boy (9.51).
Yeap Wai Kin, the second Malaysian expo- nent in action, claimed fourth place (9.29). Earlier, he was penalised for an error in jianshu and ended sixth with 8.80.
It is a redemption of sorts for the wushu squad after they failed to return with a medal from the Asian Games campaign in Indonesia in August.
Malaysia’s chances to win gold at the Asiad disappeared after the men’s jianshu and qiangshu (spear) events were not included in the Games programme.
Weng Son was happy to prove his worth on the world stage again.
“I continued training as I didn’t want to rest after the Asian Games. This competition is important to me after the disappointment in the Asiad,” said Weng Son.
“I couldn’t win a medal at the Asian Games but I gained experience and I’m happy to come back stronger here,” added Weng Son, who thanked National Sports Council, National Sports Institute and Malaysia Wushu Federation.
Phoon Eyin also made amends after returning empty-handed from the Asiad by becoming the first Malaysian woman gold medallist at the Taolu World Cup after scoring 9.54 points in the jianshu event.
Yi Li of Macau won silver with 9.48 while Spain’s Paloma Panos took the bronze with 9.34.
Phoon Eyin went on to claim a second gold in the qiangshu with 9.65 points ahead of Myanmar’s Sandi Oo (9.41) and Japan’s Keiko Yamaguchi (9.32).
Youngster Tan Cheong Min also did well by winning a silver in the women’s nanquan (barehands) event and a bronze in the nandao (broadsword) event.
Only the top eight finishers from last year’s world meet in Kazan, Russia, qualify for this year’s edition and the Malaysian qualifiers were four women – Phoon Eyin, Audrey Chan, Cheong Min and Loh Ying Ting and two men – Weng Son and Wai Kin.