KUCHING (June 11): Sarawak scored a major breakthrough at the recent 14th National Junior KBS-KPM-AG Asia Wushu Championships at Chin Woo Athletics Association Hall in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

The 37-member team comprising 24 taolu (optional routine) and 13 sanda (free sparring) athletes captured 13 gold, 15 silver and 10 bronze medals plus eight consolation placings to finish third overall in the field of 15 teams.

Wushu powerhouse Melaka topped the tournament with 22 golds, 17 silvers, 19 bronzes and three fourth placings while Kuala Lumpur were second with one gold more than Sarawak, 12 silvers, 13 bronzes and eight fourth placings.

Sarawak sanda athletes bagged two gold medals through debutants Ar Rayyan Abdullah Hamizan in the Boys U17 75kg and Lima Jauku Youngley in the Boys U14 45kg.

Star performers in the taolu events were Bryan Wee Hao Quan who won the golds in Boys Group C changquan and gunshu, and silver in daoshu, Crystal Wee Yu Tang in Girls Group C changquan and gunshu, and silver in daoshu and Ashly Ong Yee Ern in Girls Group C jianshu and qiangshu, and changquan.

Other golds came from Amber Tan Ling Xin (Girls Group B daoshu), John Phang (Boys Group B nandao), Hong Wu Kang (Boys Group B gunshu), Sharene Kiu (Girls Group B nandao) and Ashlynn Tou Hui Chin (Girls Group C taijijian).

Those who also contributed silver medals were Amber Tan Ling Xin (Girls Group B gunshu), John Phang (Boys Group B nangun), Yong Jing Xing (Girls 32-style taijijian), Elson Chong Jia Bao

(Boys Group A taijijian), Angus Tan Yan Hong (Boys Group B gunshu), Ashley Yong (Girls Group A nandao), Darren Hiing Chee Yik (Boys Group C nanquan), Putra Irfan Dzakwam  Abdul Shukri (Boys U17 48kg), Jasmond Ting Zhong Xiang (Boys U15 65kg), Leeroy Valentine Lavern (Boys U14 52kg) and Reon Chrisson Youngle (Boys U17 60kg).

The bronze medalists included Hong Wu Kang (Boys Group B daoshu), Ashlynn Tou Hui Chin (Girls 24-style taijiquan), Yong Jing Xing (Girls 23-style taijiquan), Andra Chan Zhi Zheng (Girls Group A taijijian), Ellie Sia Yu Xin  (Girls Group C nanquan, nandao), Angel Wong Jing Xuan (Girls Group B nandao),  Farbian Frankie (Boys U17 70kg), Darwisy Hakim Muhammad Noor Zaidiee (Boys U11 33kg), and Max Choo Jun Howe (Boys U14 48kg).

Team manager Jong Chin Fei described the performance as a huge breakthrough for the taolu and sanda teams.

“It was a vast improvement in the medal collection because last year we only managed seven golds. This year, we captured 13, thanks to two golds from sanda.

“In fact, our sanda team never won any gold medal in the previous KPM championships and that is certainly a positive improvement on our sanda development,” he told The Borneo Post.

“As for the taolu team, WFS Back-up Team is once again leading the team to a higher stage,” he said.

Overall, John highlighted that the state has returned to the top three after a while.

“I am very proud and satisfied with the excellent results in KPM Championship this year, which led Sarawak back to top three teams after so many years.

“I believe that with a strong backup team, we are having more younger and talented Sukma athletes now,” he added.

For the record, Sarawak’s medal collection in KPM Championship was four golds, eight silvers, four bronzes and sixth fourth placings in 2019, 2023 (6-6-8-11) and 2024 (7-7-9-10).

14th National Junior KBS-KPM-AG Asia Wushu Championships lead