Fong Wei makes family proud with bronze medal

Malaysia's Chai Fong Wei in action in the 'gunshu' (stick) event at the 12th World Wushu Championships in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. She finished third with 9.62 points, behind winner Zheng Shaoyi of China and Hong Kong's Geng Xiao Ling. - BERNAMA Photo

KUALA LUMPUR: Chai Fong Ying, the two-time Asian Games champion, is not competing but the Chai family members were all smiles at the World Wushu Championships at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium in Cheras on Saturday.

This time it was not Fong Ying, but younger sister Fong Wei who made the podium in women’s gunshu (stick), earning 9.62 points to finish third behind China’s Shaoyi Zheng (9.72) and Hong Kong’s Geng Xiao Ling (9.65).

Fong Wei was pleased that she will walk away with at least one medal in her fourth world championships appearance.

“It’s just my normal performance.

“I tried to bring out what I do in training but the expectations were too high as we are performing at home, so I am happy to get a medal.

“I still have two more events. I hope to win another, which will be a bonus.

“My family members, including my sister, came to support me,” said 25-year-old Fong Wei, who was also the bronze medallist in the same event in Ankara (Turkey) two years ago.

Fong Ying, who has won three times in the taiji discipline at the world meet, quit in May this year, citing injuries to her knees and back.

She also wanted to focus on her accountancy degree studies at Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Fong Wei is also studying at the same university but pursuing a degree in business administration.

Guangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist Ng Shin Yii was disappointed to miss out on a medal in women’s taijiquan.

Shin Yii, who won silver in combined taijiquan and taijijian at the World Games in Cali in August, chalked 9.16 points and it was only good for 10th placing.