KUALA LUMPUR: No one heard much of Ng Joe Ee before the start of the Commonwealth Games. In fact the spotlight was on her more illustrious rhythmic gymnastic teammates to deliver gold.
However, today, Joe Ee turned out to be the toast of the national contingent as she delivered two quick gold in succession, in the ball and ribbon, to help Malaysia achieve their six-gold target.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob congratulated Joe Ee on her success.
"Joe Ee, just 16 years old, has made the nation proud with two gold medals. You are the pride of Keluarga Malaysia," he said in a tweet.
Making her debut in the Games, the 16-year-old newcomer showed no stage fright as she twirled her way, dazzling first, with the ball and then the ribbons, to the top of the leaderboard.
Joe Ee also had to manage without the Malaysian team's two Russian coaches, Yulia Ivanova and Lidia Legotina, who were not allowed into England due to the country's travel ban on Russians.
What an exciting twist to the story, just like the way Joe Ee twisted, turned and twirled on the mat.
A thrilling late show from Joe Ee, the last performer of the day, with her two gold coming just before the last day of Commonwealth Games competition.
On Friday, Joe Ee could only watch her rivals step on the podium after she finished fourth in the all-around event. Well, her day of glory was today as she not only stood on the top of the podium once, but twice.
At regional level, Joe Ee got a silver at the Hanoi Sea Games in May, but at the next biggest sports event after the Olympics, she rose magnificently to the occasion in Birmingham.
In the ball event, Joe Ee amassed an amazing 29.700 points to finish ahead of Canada's Suzanna Shahbazian (29.050) while Cyprus' Anna Sokolova was third with (28.800).
Less than an hour after her first goal, Joe Ee got the Malaysian camp erupting in joy when she struck her second gold, in the ribbon event.
She scored 27.800, beating the likes of Scotland's Louisie Christie (27.550) and Canadian Carmel Kallemaa (27.500), who won silver and bronze, respectively.
In the same event, Joe Ee's compatriot, Koi Sie Yan, who won three silver and one bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, finished fourth with 27.200.
In the clubs' event, Malaysia's 21-year-old Izzah won the bronze with a score of 28.600.