PHNOM PENH: Malaysian wushu must do something, as even minnows Brunei are catching up.
That is the call by Wushu Federation of Malaysia president Datuk Chong Kim Fatt today following the Sea Games wushu events in Phnom Penh.
He warned that for Malaysia to remain a power in the sport in Southeast Asia, things need to be done.
Brunei did as well as Malaysia, winning two wushu gold medals.
National exponent Tan Cheong Min won two gold, in the Nandao/Nangun combined event and Nanquan. Wong Weng Son took silver in the men's Jianshu/Qiangshu and Sydney Chin Sy Xuan finished second in the women's Taijijian/Taijiquan.
Malaysia also bagged four bronze in the Taolu category through Weng Son (men's Changquan), Tan Zhi Yan (men's Taijijian/Taijiquan), Pang Pui Yee (women's Changquan and Jianshu/Qiangshu).
For the first time, Malaysia won two bronze in the Sanda category through Samuel Yeo Boon Leng (men's below 60kg) and Vicky Hwa Chang (men's below 70kg).
Kim Fatt said Brunei have employed China coaches, and are starting to produce results.
He urged the Youth and Sports Ministry to come out with long-term plans and strategic investment.
"Our athletes have improved by 10-15 per cent, but the other nations like Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei have improved by 20-25 per cent.
"The other nations have been using the services of China coaches for the last 10 years, but Malaysia have not used China coaches for the last five to six years.
"We will fight for medals in the Hangzhou Asian Games (in September), but we hope to get assistance, like in psychology, from the government.
"We only sent our athletes for a month-long training camp in China.
"We won two gold in Phnom Penh, and it's the same from the last two editions in terms of average. We could have done more, but we need more investment.
"We were supposed to get a coach from China (through the National Sports Council) to help us prepare for the Asian Games, but we are still in the dark about the progress," said Kim Fatt.