KUALA LUMPUR – Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh was deeply moved by the performance of national wushu athlete Sydney Chin during her Asian Games debut today.
After witnessing the 24-year-old’s captivating performances in both the morning and afternoon sessions, Hannah expressed her emotions in a heartfelt Instagram post, shedding light on the dedicated athlete’s journey.
“This is Sydney’s first Asian Games appearance. She performed well but missed out on the bronze medal, finishing 4th out of 14 athletes.
“I felt very sad about the outcome because I empathised with her and the hard work she put in to come so close and fall just short.
“I went to see her after the results were announced, and my eyes welled up with tears. This is her inaugural outing.
“She set a personal goal for herself, to not make any mistakes, in other words, to have a flawless performance. She achieved it. She is at peace with the outcome,” Hannah said in her post.
The minister stressed the significance of recognising that each sport demands a unique support structure and foresaw Sydney’s potential ascent in her discipline.
“I am taking the time to understand how every sport is different and, consequently, will require a different support structure.
“An athlete like Sydney has great potential for growth. She has recently acquired a new coach from China.
“I am certain that with the right exposure and support, Sydney will rise,” the minister added.
Arriving in Hangzhou alongside the Malaysian cycling, squash, women’s hockey, and basketball teams on Friday, Hannah witnessed the final of the women’s wushu taijiquan+taijijian at the Xiaoshan Guali Sports Centre.
Sydney, the 2023 SEA Games runner-up, achieved an overall score of 19.460 points, with the gold medal going to China’s Tong Xin, who scored 19.696 points.
Brunei’s Lachkar Basma, who accumulated 19.502 points, took home the silver, while Hong Kong’s Chen Suijin claimed bronze with 19.476 points. – September 24, 2023