RI gets first two golds from wushu

Indonesia Raya was heard twice at the Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, where the wushu competition was held on Sunday.

Lindswell Kwok and Achmad Hulaefi secured gold medals in the women's tai chi chuan (bare hand) and men's gunshu (stick form) events, respectively.

Lindswell, who competed on Saturday, became the first Indonesian athlete to collect a gold in the tai chi chuan event with a total score of 9.71, outperforming host athlete Wai Mar Tun Thein, who collected 9.68 points to secure silver, and Malaysia's Lu Yi Chan, who grabbed bronze with 9.66.

"I present this gold to Indonesia," Lindswell said.

Lindswell, who will turn 22 this month, won two gold medals at the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia and said at the time that she aimed to match her achievement in the Games' 27th edition.

During this year, she has recorded significant achievements in several prestigious tournaments, including two golds at the third Islamic Solidarity Games in Palembang, South Sumatra, in September; a gold medal at the Sport Accord World Combat in Russia in October, and a gold from the World Wushu Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last month.

For Achmad, it was his second medal in Myanmar after grabbing a silver in the men's changquan (kung fu/long fist) event a day before.

Indonesia's other wushu athletes, Thalia Lovita Sosrodjojo and Juwita Niza Wasni, claimed bronze medals in the women's changquan and nandao (sword), respectively.

"This is an important achievement for them before competing in the Asian Games [next year]. I hope they maintain their high spirits and do not become too satisfied with only two golds," Indonesian Wushu Association chairman Supandi Kusuma said.

Up until Sunday afternoon, the host Myanmar topped the medals board with eight golds, two silvers and three bronze medals, followed by Malaysia (two gold, four silver, eight bronze), and Thailand (two gold, two silver, one bronze). Indonesia is currently placed fourth with two golds, one silver and two bronze medals.

The 27th SEA Games will officially open on Wednesday.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/ri-gets-first-two-golds-from-wushu/