Malaysian wushu champion Tan Cheong Min sees her historic success as a milestone for the sport’s global growth and future Olympic inclusion.
NATIONAL wushu champion Tan Cheong Min is grateful and proud of how her career has progressed, given that the earlier generations of exponents had fewer opportunities to compete in major international tournaments.
She said the growing development of wushu has created wider opportunities for Malaysian exponents to compete on the global stage, thereby accelerating the emergence of new talents.
The 27-year-old shared her excitement at making history as the first Malaysian to win a wushu gold medal at the World University Games (Universiade) in Chengdu, China, last year in the Nanquan+Nandao event.
READ MORE: Cheong Min clinches double gold as Malaysia’s wushu squad shines
“As a national wushu exponent, I can say that my career has been quite successful compared to my seniors. I also feel very fortunate because, during their time, there were several major Games or competitions they did not have the chance to participate in.
“Last year, I competed in the World Games, and it was a very good and exciting experience. I also became the first Malaysian to win a gold medal (Nanquan+Nandao event),” she told Bernama recently.
Cheong Min, who also bagged two gold medals at last year’s World Wushu Championships in Brasilia, Brazil, said her success in China was not just a personal achievement but one that also held great significance for the development of wushu at the international level.
“The gold medal was not just for me, but for the sport and the global wushu community, as it was something historic.
“Currently, wushu is not contested at the Olympic Games. Hopefully, through platforms like the World Games, one day the sport will be included in the Olympics,” said the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games silver medallist.
The 2019/2020 National Sportswoman admits that she still harbours dreams of delivering an Asian Games gold medal for the country, despite being aware of the tough challenges ahead at the next edition to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from Sept 19-Oct 4.
“I am still targeting an Asian Games gold, but the main threat will come from China, who are very strong.
“However, in sports, anything can happen because everyone can make mistakes. Impossible or otherwise, we will fight to achieve it,” said Cheong Min, who has also collected several gold medals at the SEA Games.