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NEWS & EVENTS
Wushu team aim for gold
Sunday, October 30, 2011


National wushu exponents Lee
Ying Shi (L) and Faustina Woo
Wai Sii in action during training at
the Menglait Sports Complex, in
Menglait, yesterday. Picture: BT

National wushu exponents are hungry for gold saying they can fight to the top of the podium at next month's 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Indonesia.

The three athletes: Lee Ying Shi,17, Faustina Woo Wai Sii, 19, and Karyn Ho Chia Yin, 16, have spurred national interest over the past year by winning medals at international wushu events such as the Xinjiang International Wushu Tournament in Shanghai, China, and the 6th Asian Junior Wushu Championships also in Shanghai, China.

They, however, remained humble and focused during training yesterday at the Menglait Sports Complex, in Menglait.

Deputy Secretary General of The Wushu Federation of Brunei Darussalam (WFBD), Calvin Ang , voiced his satisfaction over the progress the trio have made so far.

"The three of them have shown real commitment and hard work during training. Credits have to be given to them as their efforts have paid off. They have made me proud and I am confident of their ability to do well."

Asked whether they were going for gold in Indonesia, Ang said: "Yes, most definitely."

The trio had stayed in China for 50 days of intensive training with Chinese wushu exponents. They started their training right after the 6th Asian Wushu Championships in August.

It was the second out of three intensive training programmes they had undergone in preparation for next month's SEA Games . Six athletes were sent to Shanghai for training at the end of April, on which they stayed for 40 days.

Ang said the objective of the intensive training guided by national coach Li Hui was to build "the athletes' stamina and consistency of form".

"Right now, we are just conditioning them to stay focused and sharp for the SEA Games."

Competing from Nov 15-21, the national squad will be contesting in seven categories in Indonesia: dual event, nanquan (southern fist), nangun' (southern cudgel), nandao (southern broad sword), changquan (long fist), qianshu, and jianshu.

The team yesterday were visited by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah, who gave a few words of motivation and advice. "I hope the training given was sufficient enough to prepare the athletes. Learn from weaknesses of past experiences, know your opposition, and strengthen your will to win," he said.

During the 25th SEA Games in Laos in 2009, the wushu team won the nation's only silver medal. The coach hoped that his athletes would perform better in Indonesia.

The wushu squad will fly to the Games next month in a contingent of five which includes team manager Lim Kee Soon.

Courtesy from Brunei Times