PETALING JAYA: Wushu exponent Ng Shin Yii has big shoes to fill at the Asian Games in Incheon next month.
She will shoulder the country’s hopes of defending the women’s taijiquan and taijijian gold medals for Malaysia at the Asian Games.
Chai Fong Ying won the combined event at the last two Asian Games in Doha (2006) and Guangzhou (2010) but quit the sport last year to focus on her studies.
Shin Yii took silver at the 2009 World Championships in Toronto and was the bronze medallist in her Asian Games debut in Doha.
She was tipped to be a replacement for Fong Ying but failed to shine at the world meet in Kuala Lumpur last year – finishing out of the medals as Indonesia’s Lindswell Kwok grabbed the gold.
The SEA Games in Myanmar last year also saw Shin Yii settling for her third straight silver medal as Lindswell retained her title. Shin Yii finished as silver medallist twice in Laos 2009 and Palembang 2011.
National coach Yoong Thoong Foong is hoping Shin Yii will strengthen her mental resolve to overcome the challenges in Incheon.
“There will surely be attention on her in Incheon as she is expected to keep the title we won at the last two Asian Games,” said Thoong Foong.
“In training, she always does well but tends to make one or two mistakes in competition and is made to pay the price.
“I hope she does not worry too much at the Asian Games. We have a sports psychologist to help them focus and, if she can bring out her best, we always have a chance.”
If Shin Yii can bag a gold in Incheon, it will be wushu’s fourth straight gold medal from the Asiad. Ho Ro Bin was the first gold medallist for Malaysia in the men’s nanquan in Busan in 2002.
The wushu squad for Incheon comprise seven exponents in taolu (barehands and weapons) and four in sanshou (Chinese boxing).
Besides Shin Yii, the other women exponents for the taolu disciplines are Myanmar SEA Games champions Diana Bong (nanquan and nandao), Tai Cheau Xuen (nanquan and nandao) and Phoon Eyin (jianshu and qiangshu).
The men are Lee Yang (taijijian and taijiquan), Loh Jack Chang (taijijian and taijiquan) and Ho Mun Hua (nanquan and nangun).
World Championships bronze medallist Lee Wei Loong will bid for glory in Incheon in the men’s 56kg sanshou along with Shuhairi Chin (men’s 60kg), Fauzi Khalid (men’s 75kg) and Tang Pei Pin (women’s 60kg).
The taolu team are currently in Fujian, China, preparing for the Incheon Asian Games.
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