Elvic Bong Qiang Zheng relishing his men’s qiangshu gold for Sarawak.
KUCHING: Sarawak achieved their target of four gold medals in the Sukma wushu competition yesterday as Elvic Bong Qiang Zheng and Audrey Chan Yee Jo delivered the goods at SJK Chung Hua No. 3 Alumni Hall.
National exponent Audrey made up for her disappointment in the women’s taijiquan where she won the silver on Saturday by grabbing the taijijian gold with 9.62 points.
Her teammate Yong Arifah Khairul Kok (9.50) finally won a medal by taking the bronze while the silver went to Malacca’s Sydney Chin Sy Xuan (9.56).
Earlier, Elvic dished out a superb performance in the men’s qiangshu to top the 15-competitor field with 9.51 points.
A close second with a difference of 0.02 points was Negeri Sembilan challenger Low Jun Ying while Si Shin Peng of Malacca settled for the bronze with 9.47.
Meanwhile, Clement Ting Su Wei collected his second medal when he finished second in the men’s daoshu with 9.61 points. He won the men’s changquan gold on Saturday.
The gold was claimed by national exponent Khaw Jun Lim who scored 9.66 while Tan Cheong Wan was third on 9.58.
Another Sarawakian Clement Thian Fung Seng finished in fourth spot with 9.55.
Twelve-year old Stephanie Ngu Chai Ern proved that the squad’s investment in her was worthwhile by clinching the bronze medal after scoring 9.33 points in her Sukma debut. The youngest competitor in the field of nine is being groomed for future Sukma and national competitions.
Sarawak’s other bronze medal of the second day of competition was contributed by another debutant Chew Sow Hong who scored 9.28 points in the men’s nangun.
Wushu Federation of Sarawak (WFS) deputy president James Ting, while expressing satisfaction, revealed that he was hoping that they could deliver more than two golds yesterday after bagging two gold on Saturday.
“We have achieved our gold medal target but we are going all out for more and if we can get two or three more gold tomorrow, we can retain the overall championship crown,” he added.
Sarawak are now in second spot in the medal tally with four gold, two silver and five bronze medals.
Malacca grabbed three gold yesterday to sit on the top spot also with four gold but with eight silver and five bronze medals.
Third were Negeri Sembilan with three gold, three silver and one bronze, followed Penang (2-0-0) and Selangor (1-0-0). On the final day of competition today (July 25), six more golds are up for grabs in the men’s nandao, gunshu, and jianshu and the women’s nandao, gunshu, and jianshu.