GOLDEN DUO: Bong (left) and Loh show their gold medals won at the Laos SEA Games in this Dec 16, 2009 file photo.
KUCHING: Malaysian wushu exponents are capable of achieving the two-gold target set by the Wushu Federation of Malaysia at the 26th South-east Asia (SEA) Games in Indonesia from Nov 11-25.
Wushu Lion and Dragon Dance Federation of Sarawak (WFS) secretary James Ting said yesterday this was based on the good record of Malaysian exponents in the games.
“Although our best gold medal prospect Chai Fong Ying (Tajiquan) is not competing as she wants to prepare for the World Wushu Championship, I believe the others can still put up a gallant show,” he said.
He is expecting Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines to be Malaysia’s stiffest opponents.
“I am confident that Malaysia can finish among the top three teams,” said Ting.
Ting, also WFS chief coach, is also hoping that Sarawakians Loh Jack Chang and Diana Bong would be able to defend their golds won at the last SEA Games in Vientiane, Laos two years ago.
Loh was the gold medallist in the Taijiquan and Taijijian combined while Bong was the gold medallist in Taolu (Nanquan and Nandao combined).
As for another Sarawakian in the national team Kimberly Goh, Ting hoped that she would also give a good account of herself in her SEA Games debut.
“I am confident the trio will do their best to win medals for the Malaysian wushu team and that they will not make mistakes losing their balance when executing their routines during the wushu competition,” said Ting.
Other members of the men’s squad are Kevan Cheah, Koo Chee Zhong, Ong Shi Chuan, Wong Wie Jian, Tan Jia Guan and Lee Yang while the women exponents are Ng Shin Yii, Kimberly Goh, Tang Pei Pin and Tai Cheau Xuen.
Twenty golds are at stake in the wushu competition to be held at the Senayan Sports Complex in Jakarta from Nov 18-21.
At the Laos SEA Games in 2009, Malaysia captured three golds, one silver and three bronzes.