Male exponents can now be counted on to deliver honours

By LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: The women wushu exponents have brought glory to the country in the last three years but now there is hope of the men delivering honours as well going by the results at the just concluded World Championships in Toronto.

Despite fielding mainly youngsters because of the retirement of several seasoned campaigners, the Malaysian squad surpassed their previous haul from Beijing with a total of 2-2-5.

Our warriors: The Malaysian wushu team arrived at the KLIA yesterday after a creditable outing at the World Championships in Toronto. Ho Mun Hua (left) and Lee Yang with their gold medals

The two gold medals came from Ho Mun Hua (men’s nanquan – southern style barehands) and Lee Yang (men’s taijiquan), the first time Malaysia produced winners in these disciplines.

In the previous world meet in Beijing two years, Chai Fong Ying delivered the only gold medal in women’s taijijian (taiji sword) as Malaysia also secured two silver and four bronze medals.

However, Fong Ying, the Asian Games gold medal in Doha in 2006, did not fare well this time.

She not just failed to retain her title after settling for a disappointing 11th but also finished empty handed after coming in fourth in taijiquan behind her Malaysian team-mate Ng Shin Yii.

She will get the chance to bounce back onto the podium at the SEA Games in Laos next month and it is going to be exciting days ahead as Malaysia can also count on the men to chip in this time.

Team manager Chong Kim Fatt said there is hope on the two gold medallists to live up to expectations in Laos.

“Apart from the women, we have better chances in the men’s competition as well. Besides Mun Hua in nanquan, there is also Loh Jack Chang and Lee Yang to challenge for honours in the taijiquan and taijijian disciplines.

“Jack Chang did well in his debut world championships to take two medals (one silver in taijijian and one bronze in taijiquan).

“It will not be easy, however, as the gold medals at the SEA Games will be decided from combined disciplines.

“Taking this into account, we will still keep our target at two gold medals,” he said.

At the last SEA Games, Malaysia claimed two gold medals from Fong Ying and Diana Bong Siong Lin, who took bronze in women’s nangun (cudgel) in Toronto.