Wushu: Chee Zhong stakes claim for place in SEA Games squad

PETALING JAYA: Wushu exponent Koo Chee Zhong will be staking a claim for a place in the team for the Korat SEA Games after a standout performance for Malaysia in the Asian Junior Championships, which ended in Yeongju, South Korea, on Monday.

Chee Zhong bagged two individual gold medals in the boys’ Under-18 competitions – in nandao (broadsword) and nangun (stick). He also combined with Ong Shi Chuan and Ho Mun Hua to clinch another gold in the dual events.

Knocking on Korat door: Wushu exponent Koo Chee Zhong is eyeing a place in the SEA Games squad after exceptional performances at the recent Asian Junior Championships.

Chee Zhong also won a silver in the nanquan (southern style boxing) event. Another silver came from Shi Chuan in gunshu (cudgel) while Mun Hua was the bronze medallist in nangun.

Malaysia won two more bronze medals in the Under-14 competitions. Eleven-year-old Jessy Ng Zhao Xuan made an impressive debut by taking bronze in the girls’ taijiquan event. And Fong Foo Mun also finished in third place in qiangshu.

The 3-2-3 haul was one of the best showing by Malaysia in recent years and Chee Zhong stood out with his three-gold performance.

It was the second appearance in the championships for the Ipoh-born exponent. In Singapore two years ago, he won gold in nangun.

Chee Zhong, who will turn be 18 in two months’ time, is also one of the gold medallists for Malaysia in the World Juniors in Kuala Lumpur last year. He emerged as the nandao champion.

And national coach Yoong Thong Foong did not discount Chee Zhong’s chances of featuring in the SEA Games in December.

“Chee Zhong was the best performer for Malaysia in the Asian Juniors and he has again proved that he can excel outside the country. We will certainly consider him for the SEA Games,” said Thong Foong.

Of the 12 exponents in the Malaysian team, seven are from the national youth squad and the rest were selected from the national junior championships in Seremban last month.