Now, however, his injury has become worse and it will be a challenge for him to retain the gold medal in the taijiquan (bare hand) event in the ongoing Games.
The 24-year-old Miri-born exponent, who won a silver in the taijiquan and bronze in taijijian (sword) in Ankara, said: “I feel a sharp pain in my right calf every time I land on the mat”. The injury is worse than it was during the world meet,” said Jack Chang after a training session at the competition venue, the Tennis Indoor Stadium in Senayan, yesterday.
“It could affect my performance. However, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to overcome the pain and win a gold.”
Jack Chang is featuring in his third SEA Games, having returned empty-handed from his maiden outing in Korat in 2007. Two years later in Laos, he won the gold medal won in the taijiquan event.
There are 20 golds 12 in taolu (exhibition) and eight in shanshou (sparring) – at stake when the four-day wushu competition begins today.
The Malaysian Wushu Federation (MWF) have set the team a modest two-gold target although they won three in Laos.
Jack Chang, who won the silver medal in taijiquan in the Asian Championships in Macau in 2008, is also hoping that the young national wushu exponents will rise to the occasion.
“Some of them are making their debut and this is their chance to shine,” said Jack Chang, who is majoring in mechanical engineering at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
Team manager Lim Yew Sai said they were only hoping to win in the taolu event “as we are not strong in shanshou”.
“We’ve only set them a two-gold target as we don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on our exponents. Besides, wushu is a subjective sport ... so anything can happen,” he said.
“Hosts Indonesia and Vietnam have good exponents and they are expected to win the bulk of the gold medals.”
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