Wushu star Sydney says goodbye with gold and bronze

Goodbye: Sydney Chin showing off her bronze medal in the women's taijiquan taijijian event. — GLENN GUAN/The Star

BANGKOK: It's another medal - a bronze - and goodbye for Sydney Chin.

The 26-year-old claimed bronze in the women's taijiquan and taijijian combined events at Cheng Wattana Government Complex yesterday, and announced her retirement from the national wushu team on Saturday (Dec 13).

Sydney scored 9.760 points in the taijijian routine to secure the bronze with a total of 19.523. Lachkar Basma took silver for Brunei with 19.546 behind Agatha Wong, who claimed gold for Philippines with 19.556.

It was the second medal for Sydney in Thailand after winning gold with Loh Ying Ting and Mandy Cebelle Chen in the women's duilian barehands event on Saturday.

Sydney struggled to hold back her tears as she wrapped up her last act for Malaysian wushu team.

It was the second medal for Sydney after

Still, the bronze was as the gold she got when she combined with Loh Ying Ting and Mandy Cebelle Chen in the women's duilian barehands event on Saturday.

Sydney struggled to hold back her tears as she wrapped up her last act for Malaysian wushu team.

"I'm really, really happy as this is my last SEA Games. In fact, this was my last ever performance for the national team. You won't see me perform with the national team after this.

"I really gave it my all. It may be a bronze but I am really satisfied. It feels like gold to me," said Sydney.

"I'm thankful for all those people who have supported me in the national team for around 10 years, I'm really happy that I could finish with a gold and a bronze from my fourth SEA Games," said the Melaka-born who has been a wushu exponent for 20 years.

Sydney felt she has accomplished almost everything in her career.

"I became the world junior champion in the first year I entered the national team. I also been on the podium for World Championships and I made it to the podium for the World Games in China earlier this year.

Malaysia also got a second bronze medal through Clement Ting, who managed 9.766 points in the men's changquan, daoshu and gunshu combined events to finish with a total of 29.238.

The Malaysian wushu team could add to their gold medal tally if Tan Cheong Min can keep up the momentum in the nandao event on the final day.

The reigning world champion is leading the field after two events (nanquan and nangun).