PHNOM PENH – National wushu athlete Tan Cheong Min has revealed some people had “made fun of” her decision to compete in the 2023 SEA Games.
After winning the first gold for the national wushu camp at the biennial sports event here today, the 2019 world champion said many questioned her decision to compete in the Games while she was preparing for it.
The 24-year-old said they said the SEA Games was not a competition of her level as she has already made a name for herself on the world stage.
“Before I came here, a lot of people were saying: Cheong Min, you are already a world champion, so it must be easy for you to compete in the SEA Games.
“But for me, all the countries competing for wushu (in the SEA Games) are at a very high level, so it doesn’t matter that I won the previous World Championship. Everything starts from zero again when I go to compete,” she said when met after the women’s nanquan final here.
In the final which took place at Chroy Changvar Convention Centre, Cheong Min, who made her first appearance at the SEA Games, clinched the gold after collecting a total of 9.626 points.
The silver medal went to Indonesian, Tasya Ayu Puspa Dewi, with 9.593 points, while Myanmar’s Aye Thitsar Myint (9.143) took home the bronze.
Cheong Min said she was very happy to win the SEA Games gold, something she was really looking forward to as her event was previously not contested.
“In the last edition, my event was not contested, so I felt quite sad during that time. Now, I finally have had the opportunity to represent Malaysia in the SEA Games. I’m very satisfied and proud that I can win the gold medal for Malaysia and myself,” she said.
Meanwhile, her wish to increase her medal tally did not materialise after she and teammates Loh Ying Ting and Pang Pui Yee finished the women’s duilian final in fifth position. – Bernama, May 10, 2023
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