KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Wushu Federation (MWF) has reduced its gold medal target to just one for the 2025 Thailand Sea Games.
That is because
the organisers have decided to combine three wushu events into one. This involves the taolu (bare hands and weapons categories) discipline.
On top of that, the retirement of former world champion Wong Weng Son and other seniors means that Malaysia will have to rely on new faces.
MWF president Datuk Chong Kim Fatt said they have started work last month to prepare for the Sea Games.
"For the Thailand Sea Games, we are targeting one gold medal. At the Cambodia and Vietnam Sea Games before this, there were 21 events, but this time there will only be 14-15 events," said Kim Fatt.
"It's a bit chaotic because Thailand has changed the competition format. We will appeal to Thailand to revert to the old format."
The Malaysian wushu team contributed two gold medals at the 2023 Cambodia Sea Games, both coming from Tan Cheong Min in the women's taolu in the nanquan and nandao-nangun. The team also delivered two silvers and six bronze medals.
Kim Fatt said support from the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) and the National Sports Council (NSC) will strengthen the development of the sport to produce new talent.
"If the NSC and KBS support us more, we can produce more athletes. We have backup athletes and a few senior athletes who will retire in the next four years. We need to start looking for new talent," he added.