WE ARE BEHIND YOU: Lau (fourth left) handing over the flag to Yung. Wong is at sixth from left.
SIBU: Temenggong Vincent Lau Lee Ming is optimistic that the two wushu exponents who will be representing Sarawak in the 11th Hong Kong International Wushu Championship from April 5 to 8 will bring back glory to the state.
“It does not matter how you fare and so long as you try your best and put your best foot forward, we will all be proud of you,” he told the duo during the flag handing-over ceremony held here recently.
Sibu Martial Arts (Gunshu) Association (SMAA) is sending Law Kiing Fuu, 19, and Frankie Hii, 18, to compete in the championship for the second year running.
Gilbert Wong is the coach in-charge.
Law will compete in optional changquan, optional jianshu and duilian while Hii will take part in the optional taijiquan, optional taijijian and duilian.
Last year, Law returned with a flourish when he collected six gold medals to emerge the champion in the Under-18 Individual All Round Category.
He also amassed a total of 27.1 points, en route to becoming the fifth best athlete out of 9,000 participants at the championship.
Wushu exponents from China took the first four placings and Law was the only Malaysian to clinch the top 10th placing.
Hii also collected two gold medals from his pet optional taijiquan and taijijian routines.
Lau said Sarawak was the traditional wushu powerhouse and he was delighted with the continued rise in standard.
“There is only one way forward and that is to work hard and aim for success. Complacency must never be allowed to set in for it will destroy your high ambitions to come back with the best,” he advised.
Meanwhile, SMAA is sending 24 exponents to compete in the inaugural Brunei Wushu Championship in Kuala Belait, April 19-22.
The tournament is being organised by Brunei Wushu Association in collaboration with Brunei Culture and Youth Ministry.
Top wushu exponents from Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei are expected to take part in the championship.
Wong said the 17 boys and seven girls would compete in the optional routine and standard routine categories totalling 10 events.
“Most of our players are young and they lack the experience and exposure.
“We do not have high expectations from them, and so long as they can perform to their best, that should be enough.”
SMAA chief coach Yung Dah Loo will be leading the team.