MANILA: For someone who has excelled on the world stage, it’s perplexing how national wushu exponent Wong Weng Son just can’t get his hands on the gold at the Sea Games.
There was more frustration for the 27-year-old at his fourth Sea Games appearance in the Philippines today.
Although the Negri Sembilan-born was in his element at the World Trade Centre in Manila, he still found himself 0.02-point short of winning the men’s changquan (long fist) gold.
In the end, Singapore’s Yong Xi Xiang (9.70) took gold, Weng Son (9.68) the silver and Vietnam’s Tran Xuan Hiep (9.60) the bronze.
That’s Weng Son’s fourth silver medal since making his Games debut in Myanmar in 2013.
His previous silver came in duilian (spear & bare hands) in the 2013 Myanmar Games; and jianshu and qiangshu (spear) disciplines at the 2017 KL Games.
He returned empty-handed from the 2015 Singapore Games.
Weng Son knows that winning only a silver does not justify the high standard he has set for himself, since he has won titles in the 2017 World Championships and 2016 Taolu World Cup and Asian Championships.
At this year’s world meet in Shanghai, he bagged a silver in the same event.
“I’m happy that I did not make mistakes on the carpet after preparing for this discipline for the last 11 months,” said Weng Son today.
“Last year, at the Indonesia Asian Games, I made a huge mistake in the same event and it denied me a medal. So, I’m just glad I did well today.
“Of course, I feel a bit unlucky not to have won the gold.”
Weng Son will have another chance to go for gold when he pairs up with Yeap Wai King in the duilian event tomorrow.
“I will fight on and do my best to achieve my goal. Hopefully, Wai King and I will be able to synchronise our movements as he’ll perform with the spear while I will be without any weapon.”