PETALING JAYA: The stakes are high for wushu exponent Lee Ronn who is eyeing a golden breakthrough for Melaka at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) competition taking place at the IDCC Shah Alam from on Thursday (Aug 20).
The organisers have changed the competition format whereby most of the events will be combined for the first time.
The taolu (bare hands and weapons) categories used to have separate gold medal for every discipline previously but the organisers wanted to cater for a more challenging environment in line with international regulations.
There will be only 12 gold medals contested in the taolu discipline at this year’s Sukma.
The events are nanquan; changquan; jianshu and qiangshu; nandao and nangun; daoshu and gunshu; and taijiquan and taijijian; for both the men's and women's categories.
At the last Sukma in Sarawak two years ago, 20 gold medals were up for grabs in the taolu competition.
"It's going to be tougher to win a gold medal. To win the gold, we have to put up consistent performances in both routines.
"There is no room for even a slight error as that could put you out of the podium.
"I will try my best to fight for a good result for Melaka," said the 17-year-old, who has yet to stand on the wushu podium despite having won gold at the Asian Junior Championships in China last year.
At the Asian junior meet, Lee Ronn claimed gold in the gunshu event and silver in changquan.
Wushu powerhouses Melaka and Sarawak will certainly be counting on their exponents to put their best feet forward in the four-day competition.
With SEA Games gold medallist Mandy Cebelle Chen no longer eligible to compete in Sukma, Kwan Yong Xin will be out to secure a breakout performance for Federal Territories in the women's taijiquan and taijijian event.
Mandy was the double winner in Sarawak two years ago for Selangor and the stage is set for Yong Xin to rule after settling for silver in the last two editions.
Melaka's Tan Pei Ler should be the favourite to triumph again in the women's nanquan discipline while Eason Yap of Negri Sembilan will be the one to watch in men's taijiquan and taijijian event after taking silver at the World Taiqiquan Championships in Bulgaria in May.
Melaka were overall champions in wushu in Sarawak, winning seven gold, four silver and five bronze medals.
