Official Website of Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council
NEWS & EVENTS
Silver from wushu pair
Tuesday, November 22, 2011

(Top) Faustina Woo Wai Sii (L)
and Lee YingShi in action during
their duilian event yesterday.
(Above) Woo (L) and Lee with
their silver medals. Picture:
BT/ Jason Thomas

Losses like those in yesterday's duilian (duo sparring with broadsword and spear) event would be hard to swallow for anyone the thing is, Faustina Woo Wai Sii and Lee YingShi aren't just anyone.

The Bruneian duo were desperately unlucky to finish with silver in the discipline when they racked up 9.70 points, just 0.01 points off Singapore, who won gold with 9.71. The Philippines took bronze with 9.68 at the Tennis Indoor Senayan Stadium, Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, here.

Coincidentally, Singapore also pipped Brunei for gold in the same event at the 2009 Laos SEA Games.

The duilian event was set to be Brunei's last chance at a gold medal at the 26th edition of the Games which ends today, and without one, they have been doomed to finish the 12-day regional sporting extravaganza at the bottom of the 11-nation table.

But the silver medal slung around their necks and smiles all around, Woo and Lee couldn't find anything to complain about.

"Disappointed?," asked Woo. "No, I don't feel that. I'm happy we managed to win a medal and we tried our best.

"I'm sure one day we will beat Singapore and get gold," said the 19-year-old Bruneian, who also won bronze in nanquan (southern fist) on Friday.

Lee, who combined with Karyn Ho Chia Yin to win gold in the event during August's 6th Asian Junior Wushu Championships in Shanghai, China, was also confident their day would come.

"I'm already very happy with silver ... The Singaporeans have really improved their speed," said Lee.

"But we'll go back to Brunei and continue training, and one day, I believe we will beat Singapore.

"I feel I did my best in every event here and the Games have taught me a lot about other competitors' jumps, expressions, movement, body language ... Everything!," added the 17-year-old Lee, who skipped her 'O' Levels to train with the team.

Competing in changquan (long fist) on Saturday, Lee scored 9.24 points to finish fourth while Ho was last in the field of five entries with 8.70.

The 16-year-old Ho, who has been battling through an ankle injury which sidelined her for three weeks of training, was last in the field of four competitors during Saturday's qiangshu (spear) event the second of a two part-event, the first being Friday's jianshu (swordplay).

Woo was last in the field of six entries during Sunday's nangun (southern cudgel). She was fifth in the first part of the event, nandao (southern broad sword), on Saturday.

Nevertheless, she is the country's best wushu exponent here at the Games with one silver and one bronze.

When questioned Woo admitted, albeit hesitantly, that her success might be because she does not have to worry about studies.

"I stopped schooling in 2008," she said.

"I'm not like them (Lee and Ho), who have to study and train at the same time," added Woo.

National coach Lu Hui, who pushes his athletes to the limits and has the medals to show for it, was pleased with yesterday's silver.

And like any good coach, he is already looking to the future.

"Yes, I am happy," said the Hebei, China-native. "The gap was only 0.01 so it's a pity ... But we will go back, word harder, and try to win at the next Games (in Myanmar in 2013)."

Courtesy from Brunei Times