But she not just has to look out for the outside challengers but also the enemy within in the world meet taking place in Turkey next week.
Fellow Malaysian team-mate Ng Shin Yii will also compete in the taijiquan and taijijian (taiji sword) disciplines at the world meet and she is capable of stealing the show from her more illustrious rival, who has never failed to deliver in the major multi-games meets she took part in so far.
Fong Ying won her second Asian Games gold medal in Guangzhou last year but she is not going to Indonesia to defend her SEA Games title next month. Fong Ying won her world titles in the same discipline at the world meets in Manila (2005) and Hong Kong (2007).
The 22-year-old Shin Yii bagged her first silver medal at the last world meet in Toronto in 2009 while Fong Ying finished out of the medals.
Shin Yii, who also hails from Malacca, is hoping to impress in her first outing for the year as Malaysia boast of having two strong contenders in women’s taiji.
“We have not attended any competitions and this will be a good avenue to test out our new techniques before the SEA Games.
“I will compete in taijiquan and taijijian at the SEA Games too.
“Fong Ying is not going to the SEA Games and there is extra responsibility for me to try to defend the gold medal.
“I will try my best but it’s not easy as Indonesia also have a strong exponent in this discipline.
“I hope to repeat the performance in the world meet as it will give me the confidence to perform well in Jakarta,” said Shin Yii, who switched to the taiji disciplines five years ago.
Malaysia bagged a total tally of 2-2-5 in Toronto and the hope will be pinned on the five-man and five-woman teams to keep up the fine achievement in Turkey.
Besides Fong Ying and Shin Yii, the other woman exponents contending for medals are Diana Bong, Tai Cheau Xuen and Kimberley Goh.
The male exponents taking part are Loh Jack Chang, Kevan Cheah, Koo Chee Zhong, Ong Shi Chuan and Lee Yang, who is bidding to defend his title in men’s taijiquan.
The team had a one-month training stint in China prior to the world meet
THE STAR
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