SEA Games: Yeap Wai Kin bags men's jianshu gold in wushu

Yeap Wai Kin displaying his move during the men's jianshu wushu at the SEA Games. - GLENN GUAN/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Yeap Wai Kin upstaged his more illustrious teammate Wong Weng Son to deliver the first gold for Malaysia in the SEA Games wushu competition at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).

Yeap pipped Wong, who is from the Podium programme, to win the men's jianshu (sword) event after scoring 9.67 points.  

Wong, the 2016 Asian Championships and World Cup gold medallist in this event, had performed much earlier and was holding the lead at 9.65 points.  

But it only lasted until 24-year-old Yeap, who is from the Kita Juara programme, appeared on court.

Singapore's Jin Jie Fung took bronze with 9.48 points.  

It is the first gold for Penang-born Yeap in four SEA Games appearances and he was delighted to have finally got his act right.  

"I failed to get a medal in my last two SEA Games and to come here and win the gold is just great.   

"A one-two in men's jianshu for a country is rare and wonderful.

"I am happy my best friend is also on the podium. We prepared really well this time.

"We trained together and are good friends, so there is little to separate us in terms of our performance.  

"We still have one more event tomorrow in the men's qiangshu (spear) and it will be another good fight," said Yeap, who won two silvers at the 2013 World Wushu Championships in Kuala Lumpur.  

Yeap was inspired to take up wushu when he was only eight.  

"I used to watch a lot of Jet Li movies and learned the moves. He is the reason why I picked up an interest in wushu. My father, who practised traditional wushu, also encouraged me," he added.  

Wong, who is from Negri Sembilan, was not disappointed to settle for the silver.

"I am happy my good friend won the gold. The most important is the gold does not go to another country.

"I gave my best performance and I am happy with the scores. I am confident of my chances in the second event (men's qiangshu) tomorrow," said 25-year-old Wong.

 

Wong Weng Son

Malaysia also bagged two silvers through Loh Ying Ting and Phoon Eyin.  

Loh secured her first SEA Games medal after finishing with 9.63 points in the women's gunshu (cudgel) event behind Hoang Thi Phuong Giang of Vietnam (9.64 points).  

Indonesia's Freida Elvira Santoso got the bronze with 9.62 points.  

Vietnam got their second gold in the women's jianshu event through Thuy Vi Duong, who chalked 9.67 points.  

Malaysia's Phoon settled for silver for the second straight SEA Games with 9.63 points.

Singapore's Hui Xin Fung took bronze with 9.60 points. 

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