Cheau Xuen Lands Her First Gold Despite Suffering Toe Injury

JAKARTA: Not even a toe injury could prevent wushu exponent Tai Cheau Xuen from chalking up a personal best of 19.35 points for her first Games gold medal in the combined nandao (sword) and nangun (stick) at the Tennis Indoor Stadium in Senayan yesterday.

The former world junior champion scored 9.70 points in nandao on Saturday and 9.65 points in nangun to finish ahead of five other exponents for her second medal, having won the silver in the nanquan (bare hands).

Indonesia’s Astuti Dessy Indri won the silver with a total of 19.05 points.

National exponent Diana Bong Siong Lin, who won the silver medal in the world meet in Ankara, Turkey, last month, was favourite for the gold medal but could only manage a bronze.

Thank you, master: Malaysian wushu exponents Tai Cheau Xuen (left) and Kevan Cheah (right) kissing their coach Mao Yaqi after winning gold medals yesterday.

Diana scored the highest points in nandao (9.72) but failed to raise her performance in nangun, scoring only 9.25 for a total of 18.97 points, leaving her in tears for losing out on the gold.

Diana and Myanmar’s Mi Aint Mi were tied on the same score but the Malaysian was awarded the bronze on countback.

The day certainly belonged to 20-year-old Negri Sembilan lass Cheau Xuen, who won two gold medals in the World Junior Championships in Bali in 2009. What made her victory all the sweeter is that “everytime I moved my toe it hurt and I never expected to win the gold medal”.

“It’s difficult to focus when you are in pain. I was feeling more pain today than on the first day of competition on Friday,” said Cheah Xuen.

“But I managed to overcome the pain and I was truly surprised that I scored higher points than the other exponents in the nangun.”

Cheau Xuen made her debut in the 2007 Korat Games, winning bronze in the combined nanquan, nandao and nangun event. Two years later in Laos, she bagged a bronze again in the nandao and nangun. Cheau Xuen was surprised with Diana’s performance.

“She is an experienced exponent and was the favourite to win the gold medal after she scored the highest points in the nandao,” said Cheau Xuen, who was over the moon after winning her first gold medal in her third SEA Games outing.

“But she made a silly error in the nangun and it cost her the gold medal.” Cheau Xuen also vowed that she won’t let the pain stop her from competing in her third event – the women’s duilliean (exhibition) team contest – today.

“I will partner Kimberly (Goh) and hope to win my third medal of these Games.

“Indonesia is a good hunting ground for me as I won two golds in the World Junior Championships in Bali two years ago,” said Cheau Xuen.