KUALA LUMPUR: Wushu queen Tan Cheong Min has set her sights on winning the elusive Asian Games gold medal as she intensifies preparations for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games from Sept 19-Oct 4.
The 2025 SEA Games Best Female Athlete said celebrations and other events, including the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities, will take a back seat as she focuses on training.
“Even though Chinese New Year is approaching, our team’s focus remains on the Asian Games,” said the Melaka athlete.
Cheong Min has established herself as one of Malaysia’s most consistent and decorated wushu performers, compiling an impressive list of achievements across world, continental and regional competitions.
Her honours include four World Championships gold medals — Duilian (2017, Kazan), Nandao (2019, Shanghai), and a double triumph in Nangun and Duilian at the 2025 Brasilia edition — along with silver medals in Nanquan and Duilian (2019) and bronze medals in Nangun (2017, 2023).
The 27-year-old also made history by delivering Malaysia’s first-ever World Games gold medal in Chengdu (2025) in the Nanquan and Nandao combined event, in addition to winning the World Combat Games gold in Riyadh (2023).
At the regional level, Cheong Min captured double gold medals at the 2025 Thailand and 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, and also claimed the Asian Championships Nandao gold medal with two silver medals in Nanquan and Nangun in 2024 in Macau.
However, the Asian Games gold remains the one major title missing from her collection after she settled for silver in the Nanquan-Nandao all-round event at the 2022 Hangzhou Asiad
The Asian Games use a combined-event format where scores from both a bare-hand routine and a weapon routine are tallied to determine a single medal winner, adding to the intensity of competition.
“Wushu is a very tough sport, especially with two events combined into one medal. The competition across Asia is exceptionally strong; every athlete is fighting for the podium,” she said.
“The team from China is formidable, and in competition, anything can happen. Mistakes can be made by anyone, so what seems impossible might become possible.”
Reflecting on her journey, Cheong Min credited consistent hard work and strong support from the national set-up for her rise on the international stage.
“I feel my career has been quite successful and I consider myself very fortunate compared to my seniors. The World Games gold was a historic moment — not just for me, but for our sport. I hope this success helps wushu eventually reach the Olympic stage.”
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
