Wushu: Fong Ying creates history if she wins

CHAI Fong Ying has a chance to make history as the first Malaysian woman to win a gold medal in wushu at the SEA Games when she makes her debut in the competition which begins at Kebkanjana Hall at Chanapolkan Institute of Technology in Korat today. 

Fong Ying will start as the favourite to win the women’s taijiquan and taijijian all-round event, which is performed under choreographed music for the first time. The event is one of the eight in the taolu (traditional bare hands and weapons) programme. 

Fong Ying: Has a good chance to become the first Malaysian woman to win gold inwushu at the SEA Games.

The 21-year-old from Batu Berendam was the first Malaysian to win gold in the Asian Games – in Doha last December. And she achieved it in the same event. 

Fong Ying also won the taijiquan gold in the World Championships in Beijing last month and it was the second consecutive success after winning the taijijian event in the previous edition in Hanoi two years ago. 

The three golden feats have earned her RM240,000 under the National Sports Council (NSC) incentive scheme. And Fong Ying can achieve a rare feat if she wins the event in Korat. 

Women’s competitions in wushu since the sport made its debut in the SEA Games in Manila in 1991 have seen the dominance of the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. And gold medals for Malaysia all came from the men’s competition. 

“There is a good chance for me to claim the gold if I am consistent in both events,” said Fong Ying. 

“I will take part in the taijiquan (tomorrow) and will know my position after the second event (taijijian) two days later.” 

Separate gold medals were awarded for taijiquan and taijijian at the previous Games but Fong Ying said that she was not disappointed in having just one shot at winning gold. 

“I will try my best to deliver the gold. I believe it will be a fight between an Indonesian and I. The previous gold medallist from Vietnam (Bui Mai Phuong) is pregnant and they do not have a representative this time,” she added. 

Wushu begins today with a gold medal at stake in the men’s duilian (dual event). 

The duilian is making its debut and the Malaysian combination of Ng Say Yoke, Wee Jung Jieh and Lim Yew Fai stand a good chance to achieve glory. 

The trio emerged with the best performance among the South-east Asian countries when they took fourth spot behind China, Hong Kong and Macau in the world championships last month.