KUCHING: Penang wushu exponent, Danish Aizad Firdaus Chua, is still on cloud nine after etching his name in SUKMA history by clinching two gold medals at the ongoing 2024 Malaysia Games, marking a triumphant end to his journey at the biennial event.
The 2018 World Junior Champion in the gunshu discipline, Danish's wushu journey began at just six years old, inspired by his mother's love for kung fu movies.
"I first stepped into wushu in 2010, when I was only six. My mum's fascination with kung fu movies led my father to enroll me in the sport.
" I had no clue what wushu was, but once I started, both my dad and coach saw potential in me, and I haven't looked back since," he told Bernama after the medal ceremony at the SSC Wushu Hall in Petra Jaya.
In today's men's gunshu final, Danish showcased his mastery, clinching his second gold medal with a score of 9.620, outclassing 17 other competitors.
Sabah's Ericsson Bong Cheng Loong took home the silver with 9.590 points followed by Melaka's Ronn Lee (9.576 points) for the bronze.
On Wednesday, the 20-year-old finally captured his first SUKMA gold in the changquan event, a moment he described as the pinnacle of his Wushu journey so far.
The youngest of three siblings, Danish reflected on his journey with pride, having participated in two previous SUKMA editions but only reaching the top of the podium this year.
"This victory is a dream come true. I'm overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. I dedicate these gold medals to my mum, dad, coach, and the teams at ISN (National Sports Institute) and MSN (National Sports Council) who have always backed me," he said, filled with emotion.
Looking ahead, Danish has his sights set on breaking into the national senior squad, with ambitions of representing Malaysia at major international competitions like the World Championships and the Asian Games.
This SUKMA appearance marks his third and final one, with his previous outings in Perak 2018 and Kuala Lumpur 2022 earning him a silver and a bronze. – BERNAMA