SIBU: Two exponents from Sibu Taekwondo Federation (STF) brought home two gold medals from the 2nd Asia Zone Taekwondo Self Defence Championship held in Guangzhou, China recently.
Wong Tiong Yung, 18, emerged champion in the pomsae event of the 18 years old and above category while Lucas Chieng Tiew Lik won in the 18 years old and below category.
Both are from SMK Sacred Heart.
Their fellow team mate, Lau Lee Ling bagged a bronze in the 48kg sparring event.
The Malaysian team won a total of four gold medals, two silver and three bronze at the four-day championship.
Chieng collected 5.23 points to beat his nearest rival from China by 0.01 point.
“Though it was a victory won by a whisker, it will inspire me to work and train harder and earn more accolades for the country,” he told The Borneo Post recently.
Wong, another rising star in pomsae under STF, chalked up 6.06 points to lift the title.
“I’d never expected to win the championship. I am grateful to all my coaches for their assistance,” he said.
The duo had also represented STF in the recent 1st Penang Taekwondo Pomsae Championship held in Penang early this year and both returned with a gold medal each.
Team manager cum head coach Michael Wong said the competition was a good platform to gauge the standard of the players.
“We are fortunate to come back with two gold medals and one bronze.
“The Chinese exponents were the biggest threat to us and fortunately, our players managed to stay focused and scrap through the championship.”
Among the participating Asian countries were South Korea, China, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia.