BANGKOK: Wushu Federation of Malaysia (WFM) president Datuk Chong Kim Fatt hopes the national squad will be given more coaches to help strengthen their programme ahead of next year’s Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Kim Fatt said the national squad currently only has one coach, which places it at a disadvantage compared to other countries in the region.
He added that Malaysia should follow in the footsteps of Indonesia, who had appointed four coaches from China to guide their team ahead of the Thailand SEA Games.
Indonesia concluded their SEA Games campaign as overall champions in wushu with a five gold, three silver and one bronze haul.
“Indonesia has shown tremendous improvement. They have the support of four coaches, but we only have one,” said Kim Fatt yesterday.
“We are trying to get more coaches as next year we will be competing in the Asian Games, which is an important competition in the sport.”
Kim Fatt said the national backup squad is especially in need of additional coaches to help guide the next generation of talent for Malaysia.
He added that he was pleasantly surprised by the performances of Malaysian wushu exponents at the Thailand SEA Games.
“Our target was actually one gold because we knew that other countries, including Indonesia, are very strong,” said Kim Fatt.
“Our exponents tried their very best and winning that first gold gave us extra motivation to keep going.”
The national squad concluded their campaign with a commendable three gold, one silver and four bronze haul.
The trio of Mandy Cebelle Chen, Sydney Sy Xuan Chin and Loh Ying Ting emerged victorious in the women’s duilian bare-handed event.
Tan Cheong Min, Pang Pui Yee and Ying Ting won the women’s team duilian. Cheong Min also won the women’s individual nanquan-nandao-nangun event.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
