SHAH ALAM: For a wushu exponent who has already landed a medal at the World Championships, most would expect the Malaysia Games (Sukma) to be a breeze for Eason Yap.
But the 18-year-old from Melaka would beg to differ – even after winning his first gold medal in his second appearance in the Games.
Eason said competing in front of his national teammates on home soil at the IDCC in Shah Alam on Saturday (Aug 22) was a nerve-racking experience.
"At the World Championships, I was going up against athletes from other countries, and I didn’t know many of them," said Eason.
"But at the Sukma, there's much more pressure because I know the athletes here and some are even from the national team.
"However, I didn’t let that stop me from doing my best. I had been preparing for this for more than a year, and I just felt that I could win."
His thorough preparation showed in the way he kept his composure to secure the top prize in the men’s taijiquan and taijijian event.
Eason scored 9.613 points in the taijiquan before adding 9.626 in the tajijian event to secure the win with a 19.239 total.
Penang’s Eng Ying Sin came in second with 19.079, while Sarawak’s Golden Sim settled for bronze with 19.072.
Eason's Sukma success came after he earned a silver at the World Taijiquan Championships in Bulgaria in May.
Meanwhile, Melaka added another gold after Wong Kai Xin topped the women’s nanquan event.
She finished with 9.633, ahead of teammate Nor Azira Kamarudzaman (9.563) and Penang’s Gillian Ong (9.523).
RESULTS
Men
Taijiquan and Taijijian: 1. Eason Yap (Mel) 19.239, 2. Eng Ying Sin (Pen) 19.079, 3. Golden Sim (Swk) 19.072.
Nanquan: 1. Wee Din Jun (Pen) 9.569, 2. Abel Lim (Bru) 9.593, 3. Syakir Ifwat (Prk) 9.580.
Qiangshu: 1. Boey Shee Shen (Pen) 9.600, 2. Ong Wei Bin (Nse) 9.570, 3. Ho Jing Thye (Joh) 9.536.
Women
Nanquan: 1. Wong Kai Xin (Mel) 9.633, 2. Nor Azira Kamarudzaman (Mel) 9.563, 3. Gillian Ong (Pen) 9.523.
Jianshu: 1. Lee Cheng Wei (FT) 9.600, 2. Tang Koh Ming (Pen) 9.540, 3. Queek Yenn Tinn (Mel) 9.510.
