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National wushu athlete Tan Cheong Min made history by becoming Malaysia's first-ever wushu gold medallist at the World Games in Chengdu, China
The 27-year-old won the women's nandao–nanquan combined event on Saturday, 9 August, scoring 19.479 points, defeating competitors from Uzbekistan and Singapore.
According to the New Straits Times, Tan had already impressed in the nanquan segment on Friday, 8 August, scoring 9.746 points at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre Gymnasium.
She followed up with an equally stellar 9.733 in the nandao segment, securing her overall victory.
Her achievement makes her only the fourth Malaysian athlete to win gold at the World Games, which are held every four years
The World Games is an international multi-sport event comprising sports and sporting disciplines that are not contested in the Olympic Games.
She joins the ranks of bowlers Daniel Lim and Sharon Low, who won the mixed doubles gold in 1997, and squash legend Datuk Nicol David, who earned three golds between 2005 and 2013.
"This is my first time in Chengdu, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. With the support from the audience, I felt motivated to give my best," Tan told CGTN Sports.
Tan's victory adds to an already impressive career tally: two World Championship titles, two golds at the 2023 SEA Games, a gold at the 2023 World Combat Games, and more
She will next compete at the 2025 World Championships in Brazil next month, followed by the Thailand SEA Games in December.
Fellow wushu athletes Pang Pui Yee and Sydney Chin also made the podium in Chengdu, winning silver in the changquan–qiangshu–jianshu event and bronze in the taijijian–taijiquan event, respectively.
From left to right: Pang Pui Yee, Tan Cheong Min, and Sydney Chin.
Image via Hannah Yeoh (Facebook)