KUCHING: Sarawak junior wushu exponents have a bright chance of making the national squad for the Asia Youth Championship in Shanghai, China, from Aug 17 to 28.
COMPETITORS IN MAKING: Ling (centre, standing) with the six athletes chosen for the national selection.
Coach Ling Ung Hee from the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSN) Centre of Excellence for Wushu, said she is confident the six state exponents can make the cut because they are better compared to their counterparts from the 14 other states.
“In terms of skills, they are okay but it will greatly depend on their performance during the trials at Bukit Jalil on June 11,” she said.
The six athletes are Tan Choon Kiat, 16, Sean Chai Wei Jea, 15, Clement Thian Fung Seng, 12, Elvic Bong Qian Zheng, 12, Audrey Chan Yee Jo, 14, and Fu Wen Jie, 9. They are among the 90 exponents from 15 states vying for the remaining 10 spots in the 12-member national squad for the Championship.
“They are called up based on their excellent performances in the Sarawak Wushu Championship last December and their good attitude in training under the state wushu development programme run jointly by MSN and Wushu, Lion and Dragon Dance Federation of Sarawak,” Ling added.
Choon Kiat will be fighting for a spot in three Group A (age 16-18) disciplines — Nan Quan, Nan Dao and Nan Qun — while Yee Jo will contesting for a spot in two Group B (age 13-15) disciplines – for girls — Taiji Quan and Taiji Jian – and Wei Jea will follow suit in the boys’ category (Group B) for the same disciplines.
Fung Seng, Qian Zheng and Wen Jie will be going for the four spots (two boys, two girls) in Chang Quan, Dao Shu, Gun Shu, Jian Shu and Qiang Shu in Group C (age 9-12) during the selection at Bukit Jalil on June 11.
Ling said the six state junior exponents were gold medallists in last year’s Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Wushu Championship and Sarawak Wushu Championship and each has his or her own specialties and character.
“Yee Jo has trained under me for eight years and was the Taiji Jian and Taiji Quan gold medallist in the MSSM and Sarawak Wushu Championships last year. She will be first choice for Sukma 2012 in Pahang while Choon Kiat is the undisputed champion in Nan Dao, Nan Quan and Nan Gun at both championships for three years running,” she added.
For fast learner Qian Zheng who started training seriously in August last year, it will be his second outing for Malaysia if selected.
The student from SK Chung Hua No 4 has represented the country in the World Youth Championship in Singapore in December last year.
“The most special thing about Wen Jie is that she has a commanding presence when doing her routine on the floor. She joined us when she was six and after three months of intensive training, was selected into the state MSSM Championship team,” Ling said.
According to her, Fung Seng also joined in August 2010 and has overtaken Wen Jie and Qian Zheng in terms of progress while Wei Jea also took up Taiji Quan and Taiji Jian well after joining the centre in January last year.”
Ling will accompany the six exponents to Kuala Lumpur on June 10.
If selected, they will undergo two weeks of centralised training in Kuala Lumpur before leaving for Shanghai.