Clement breaks 24-year drought to win men’s wushu medal

Full of pride: Clement Ting showing off his medal. — Reuters

CLEMENT Ting showed that Malaysia wushu does not just depend on woman exponent Tan Cheong Min to deliver after claiming a bronze in the men’s daoshu-gunshu combined event at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall.

The 28-year-old collected 19.403 points to finish behind South Korean exponent Lee Ha-sung, who earned 19.406, becoming the first Malaysian male exponent to make the Asian Games podium in 24 years.

China’s representative Gao Xiaobin won gold with 19.582 points.

It’s the second wushu medal for Malaysia in as many days. Cheong Min finished with bronze in the women’s nanquan-nandao combined event on Tuesday, her second Asian Games medal after taking silver in the same event in Hangzhou three years ago.

Ho Ro Bin won gold in men’s nanquan event in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan and no Malaysian male exponent has made it to the podium since then.

Clement, who is from Sibu, was pleased to contribute a medal for Malaysia on the last day of wushu competition.

“I was in fourth spot after the daoshu (sword) discipline, scoring 9.690 points,” he said.

“But the margin behind the third placed competitor was only 0.03, so I knew there was a medal chance if I put up another strong act in the afternoon.

“My score 9.713 in the gunshu discipline put me second overall with the Chinese competitor yet to perform, so I knew the medal chance was in the bag.”

Clement added it was a meaningful career milestone for him after only finishing fifth in his Asiad debut in Hangzhou three years ago.

“This time I came with more experience and confidence, and it helped me today,” he said.

“We have not won a medal before in daoshu and gunshu events, I am very proud to be able to contribute a bronze today.

Pang Pui Yee was placed fifth overall in the women’s jianshu and qiangshu combined event with a total of 19.390 points.

Powerhouse China dominated the wushu competition with a perfect six gold medals out six events contested.

Malaysia finished eighth overall with two bronze medals.

RESULTS

Men’s daoshu and gunshu: 1. Gao Xiaobin (Chn) 19.582, 2. Lee Ha-sung (Kor) 19.406, 3. Clement Ting (Mas) 19.403.

Women’s jianshu and qiangshu: 1. Yao Yang (Chn) 19.546, 2. Kida Nanoha (Jpn) 19.446, 3. Duong Thuy Vi (Vie) 19.413. Selected: 5. Pang Pui Yee (Mas) 19.390.