Stephanie ends Sukma career with spectacular third gold medal for Sarawak

KUCHING (Aug 16): Wushu star Stephanie Ngu Chai Ern’s swansong as a Malaysian Games (Sukma) athlete finished on a high note today as she bagged her third gold for Sarawak in as many days.

On the final day of the wushu competition at the Sarawak Wushu Training and Competition Centre in Petra Jaya, here, the former Chung Hua Middle School No. 3 student produced another spectacular display to finish top in the women’s qiangshu with 9.606 points.

The silver was won by national athlete Lee Cheng Wei from Federal Territories (9.570 points), while the bronze went to Tan Koh Ming from Penang (9.553 points).

Stephanie won Sarawak’s first gold for Sukma XXI on the first day in the women’s changquan and went on to bag the second gold in the women’s jianshu yesterday.

Her win made her the first triple gold medallist for Sukma XXI and she also entered the Sarawak Sukma wushu record books as the first athlete to win three individual gold medals.

Stephanie’s mother Lee Leh Ling, elder sister Philomena Ngu Chai Yin, and younger sister Amanda Ngu Chai Nin were present to give her moral support.

The second of five siblings, who hails from Sibu, said she was surprised by her achievement in her fourth Sukma outing.

“In the previous three outings, l only managed to win silver or bronze.

“After this, I am hoping to be able to join the national wushu team and compete in higher level competitions.

She said self-belief was a key factor that pushed her to advance in the sport.

“I believed in myself as well as the coaches who helped me a lot and guided me since l took up the sport 12 years ago,” said the 20-year-old, whose idol is Lai Xiao Xiao of China.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and deputy Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu presented the medals.

The Sarawak Wushu contingent has so far won three gold, one silver, and three bronze medals to place second in the wushu medal tally after Melaka, which has won three gold, three silver, and one bronze.