PETALING JAYA: Wushu exponent Tan Cheong Min earned a timely boost to her Asian Games assault in Aichi-Nagoya after a solid outing in the Taolu World Cup in Haikou, China.
The 27-year-old successfully defended her women's nangun (stick) title after scoring 9.746 points to top the elite field of eight competitors.
Uzbekistan's Darya Latisheva took silver with 9.736 points while Kassandra Ong of Singapore got the bronze with 9.723 points.
It is the second gold medal for Malaysia in as many days.
Lee Jia Rong had given Malaysia a dream start by winning the women's daoshu (sword) event on Tuesday.
Cheong Min's performance will give her a lot of assurance heading into the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya in September where she seeks to preserve her legacy as one of the best wushu exponents Malaysia have ever produced.
At the Asian Games, the scores are determined from combining both the nanquan and nangun disciplines.
The Melaka-born SEA Games gold medallist exponent will need to give strong performances in both events to defend the silver medal she earned in her debut Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023.
Pang Pui Yee also made it a double joy for Malaysian when she took silver in the women's qiangshu (spear) event.
Pui Yee scored 9.726 points with Duong Thuy Vi taking gold for Vietnam with 9.746 points.
Independent Neutral Athlete's Aksinila Schukina took bronze with 9.723 points.
Bryan Ti placed seventh in the men's nangun (9.633).
The field for the World Cup are made up of the top eight finishers in the respective disciplines from the World Championships in Brazil last year.
