Golden end for Malaysia as Weng Son wins in Fuzhou

Wong Weng Son bagged bronze for Malaysia in men's jianshu at the World Wushu Championships in Jakarta.

PETALING JAYA: Hats off to Wong Weng Son.

The 24-year-old wushu exponent became Malaysia’s first-ever gold medallist at the inaugural Taolu World Cup when he emerged triumphant in the men’s jianshu in Fuzhou, China, on Monday.

Weng Son was in a class of his own in the double-edged sword discipline, earning 9.64 points to blow away his rivals. Pavel Muratov of Russia collected 9.52 points for the silver while Japan’s 2013 world champion Tomoya Okawa was third with 9.51. World champion Charles Susanto of Indonesia could only finish fifth with 9.49.

“It’s a dream come true. Winning the World Cup is equivalent to winning the World Championships as you’re up against all the world’s top exponents,” said the Seremban-born Weng Son, the winner of the event at the Asian Championships in Taiwan in September.

“I won three medals (two silvers and a bronze) in my World Championships debut so to be finally on top of the podium, it’s just a really wonderful moment.

“I owe this success to coach Lim Yew Fai. He’s not only my trainer, he’s also my inspiration,” added Weng Son.

Malaysia also clinched three silvers on the last day of the competition for a final medal tally of one gold, five silvers and two bronzes.

Two-time world champion Ho Mun Hua finally got his act right after posting 9.63 points to finish second to Taiwan’s Lai Po Wei (9.69) in nangun (cudgel). The 27-year-old had earlier failed to impress in the nanquan and nandao.

Chan Lu Yi had to settle for another silver, this time in the women’s taijiquan. The 19-year-old’s 9.58 effort was nowhere near Chen Suijin. The Hong Kong exponent amassed 9.67 to claim a taiji double, having won the taijijian (sword) on Sunday.

Chai Fong Wei bade farewell to her illustrious 12-year career by teaming up with Phoon Eyin to win the silver in the women’s duilian (dual event). They garnered 9.48 points, losing narrowly to Macau’s Sou Cho Man-Li Yi’s 9.50.

Yew Fai was delighted with his charges’ impressive haul.

“We arrived with a modest two-medal target, but we got eight. I couldn’t be happier,” said Yew Fai, a former world champion in 2005.

“I’m particularly pleased with Weng Son. We’re all so proud of him. He has come a long way. Lu Yi did very well, too. I’m sure she will challenge for more honours in years to come.

“But I have told them not to get carried away. We want them to stay humble and focus on future challenges.”