Three World C'ship Silver Linings Before SEA Games

Despite not being able to retain their world titles, there were silver linings for Singapore's Zeanne Law and Jowen Lim at the Sept 3-7 World Wushu Championships in Brazil, as they look forward to the year-end SEA Games.

- David Lee

At Brasilia's Ulysses Guimaraes Convention Centre – where the championships were held for the first time in South America – Law secured her first silver in the women's taijiquan when she scored 9.763 to finish second out of 19 athletes on Sept 4.

Law was behind China's Wu Xu (9.783) and ahead of Japan's Shiho Saito (9.746), while fellow Singaporean Vera Tan was fifth (9.733).

Two days later, Law scored 9.726 and was pipped to the women's taijijian gold by Saito (9.740), as she finished second out of 18 exponents. Filipina Agatha Wong (9.703) took the bronze, while Tan (9.670) was fifth again.

Law, 19, told The Straits Times: "Two years ago, my focus was simply to do my best and gain experience. Going into these world championships, I stepped onto the carpet with more confidence, maturity and naturally, higher expectations of myself... to give my all and finish my routines with no deductions.

"While I'm proud of how I performed, it was also a learning experience to adapt to the judging styles. This year, we see many new judges, so the points they look out for may be a little different from before.

"I'll study the scoring system more closely and refine my routines, so I can come back stronger."