Wushu manager says don’t expect any glitter

PETALING JAYA: There is no gold medal target in wushu this time although the sport has never failed to contribute in the last eight SEA Games.

Team manager Chong Fok Yan said several factors had led to their decision including the fact that the entire squad comprised mostly new faces.

“Past records show that the wushu squad have never returned home empty-handed but we’ve decided to set just a two-medal target in Hanoi this time.

“We don’t have any specific medal target but we’re confident that the exponents have the potential to bring home at least two medals.

“The reason why we are not setting a high target this time is due to the fact that we have not taken part in any competition for the last three years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Our last competition was the Philippines SEA Games. Some of our athletes in the podium programme have also left the squad and most of our exponents are competing in the Games for the first time.

“But I believe that if our exponents do not make any mistakes during the competition, we can expect something good to come,” said Fok Yan.

Hosts Vietnam have also dropped the events where Malaysian exponents have become world champions.

Former world champion Wong Weng Son (men’s jianshu) and reigning world champion Tan Cheong Min (women’s nandao), who was crowned the National Sportswoman for 2019-2020 recently, will miss the Games as their events won’t be contested.

In the Philippines three years ago, wushu contributed two golds, one silver and a bronze. The gold medals came from Loh Choon How in men’s taijijian and taijiquan.

THE SQUAD

Clement Ting Su Wei and Yeap Wai Kin (men’s changquan & daoshu + gunshu); Tan Zhi Yan (men’s taijiaquan & taijijian); Sydney Chin Sy Xuan (women’s taijiquan & taijijian); and Kelvin Teng Kai Wen (men’s 56kg sanda).

Calvin Lee Wai Leong (men’s nanquan, nandao & nangun); Mandy Cebelle Chen (women’s taijiquan & taijijian); Pang Pui Yee (women’s changquan; jianshu & qiangshu); Lee Jia Rong (women’s changquan & daoshu + gunshu); Chong Jian Hwa (men’s sanda 65kg) and Vicky Hwa Chang (men’s sanda 70kg).