PENANG have struck two gold medals today (Sept 12) in the Sukma 2018 – thanks to the state’s wushu darlings Chan Lu Yi and Aggie Cheah Ruey Shin.
Lu Yi topped the wushu Women’s Taijiquan event with 9.52 points delivering the first gold medal for Penang.
Lu Yi, 21, is currently a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) undergraduate at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Sungai Long.
The second year undergraduate said time management the key to her success.
“I always try to balance my study and my wushu training.
“Besides training and studying, I also hang out with my friends during leisure,” she said.
Penang continued to reign supreme when Cheah outmatched her opponents with her outstanding score of 9.62 in the Women’s Changquan event, bagging the gold medal.
Cheah, who is currently studying her Diploma in Business with Information Technology, agreed that time management is important.
“I need to focus on my studies and wushu. I hope to be selected in the 2019 Southeast Asean Games, which will be held at the Philippines next year,” the 21-year-old from Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation said.
Cheah first took part in wushu when she was 11-years-old.
“Before taking up wushu, I was a gymnast. I decided to switch sports (from being a gymnast to being a wushu athlete) after I injured my hand when I was a gymnast,” she said.
Wushu athlete Chuah Shangyang also made the state proud by earning a silver medal in the Men’s Nandao event and a bronze medal in the Men’s Nanquan event.
Today (Sept 12) also saw Penang earned a silver medal and two bronze medal in Judo.
The Under-73kg final match between judokas Chan Por Hao (Penang) and Mohamad Aizul Hilmi Zainudin (Terengganu) was extremely intense.
Por Hao, on several attempts, tried to submit his opponent Mohamad Aizul Hilmi during the four-minute match.
The match entered into Golden Score, a sudden death situation where the clock is reset to match-time and the first judoka to earn any score would win.
Both Por Hao and Mohamad Aizul Hilmi were given two shidos each (a shido is given for minor rule infringements), before the match was paused at 25 seconds during the Golden Score period.
Mohamad Aizul Hilmi was declared the winner after Por Hao was given the third shido.
Por Hao said it was not easy to compete in a judo competition.
“You need a lot support from your family, friends, and coaches. Their support will help to boost your confidence.
“The judo competition also tests the mental strength of the judokas,” he said.
Coach Md Nashriq Md Nasir said the Penang judo team tried their best.
“We are very proud of our judokas for trying their best to make Penang proud,” he added.
Two judokas Nur Dania Rosaini (Under-63kg) and Leon Cheah (Under-60kg) bagged a bronze medal each.
Penang Youths and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee and Penang Sports Council director Frederick Tan congratulated the medallists and encouraged those who are contesting to do their best and make Penang proud.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud and Chan Kok Kuan
