Non-Malay - Wushu: Siti scores a first

KUALA LUMPUR: Sanshou (freestyle boxing) exponent Siti Zaishbila created history for Terengganu when she won the state's first-ever gold in the national wushu championships at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium in Cheras yesterday.
Terengganu did not even have an association until early this year and in their debut in the national championships made their present felt in sanshou with a haul of 1-2-4. In the 11 finals contested, Siti was the easiest winner. She was handed the gold in the 65kg category without having to fight in the final because Kuala Lumpur's Chong Yin Yin came down with cramps and conceded a walkover.
But for Siti, who won two bouts on Monday to advance to the final, it was still a well-deserved gold medal. She had quit her job to prepare for the national championships.

“I'm happy to deliver a gold medal for Terengganu. I did not expect this because this was my first competition in sanshou,” said the 23-year-old former taekwondo exponent who had represented Malaysia in the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) world championships in North Korea in 2000.

Terengganu sanshou coach Wee Teck Jien said that he was delighted that one of his exponents managed to emerge as the champion. "It was not easy for the Malay exponents who were fasting throughout the competition days,” he said.

“I am happy for Siti who quit her job as a supervisor in a supermarket two months ago to train intensively with me. “The exponents with me have a background in taekwondo. But in sanshou, we have only started training intensively for the last two months. I'm delighted that seven of our eight exponents in sanshou managed to win medals.” Teck Jien, who has his training base in Kemaman, added that the standard of his exponents were relatively low compared those from Kuala Lumpur and Perak. “They are just beginners. Given time, we will be challenging the other states strongly,” he said. The Terengganu Wushu and Lion Dance Association were set up this year to enable the state to field a team for the wushu competitions in Sukma (Malaysia Games), which they will host next year. But sanshou will not be in the Sukma programme.

source: The Star