Wushu team shift gears to Brazil after strong China campaign

Impressive: Tan Cheong Min struck gold in the nanquan and nandao at the World Games.

KUALA LUMPUR: The national wushu exponents will need to refocus for the World Championships in Brasilia, Brazil, from Sept 1-7 after their recent run of strong results.

They excelled in two major competitions on Chinese soil in the past month – the Asia Taolu Cup in Jilin and the World Games in Chengdu – bringing home an impressive medal haul.

At the Asia Taolu Cup, Malaysia finished fifth overall with one gold, seven silver and three bronze medals, with the solitary gold coming from Clement Ting in the men’s gunshu event.

The team, fielding four exponents, also marked their debut at the World Games in Chengdu last week with a complete set of medals in the women’s all-round events.

Tan Cheong Min was the revelation of the team as she struck gold in the nanquan and nandao; Pang Pui Yee took the silver in changquan, jianshu and qiangshu; and Sydney Chin won bronze in the taijiquan and taijijian.

Now, national coach Koo Chee Zhong wants his charges to put those achievements behind them and shift their focus to the bigger challenge ahead in Brazil.

“The World Games in Chengdu was a good platform for the athletes to show their abilities,” said Chee Zhong.

“Two-time world champion Cheong Min proved that she was still on the same level at the World Games.

“We are very happy with the performance showed by Pui Yee and Sydney as it was not easy to make the podium.

“Clement also did well to place fifth and this shows our seniors are on track heading to the world meet.

“It’s back to recovery and training mode before the Brazil stint,” he added.

Malaysia’s team for the World Championships will comprise male exponents Clement, Wong Zhi Hong, Bryan Ti Kai Jie and Mohd Danish Aizad Firdaus Chua and the women are Cheong Min, Pui Yee, Sydney and Tan Jia Rong.

At the 2023 World Championships, the national team finished sixth overall with one gold, six silver and four bronze.

Wong Weng Son delivered the only gold for Malaysia in men’s changquan.