SEA Games 2023: Momentous wushu golds for Kimberly Ong, Jowen Lim in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH – For several weeks in January, Kimberly Ong was not sure if she would be able to defend her women’s daoshu and gunshu combined title at the 2023 SEA Games.

Days of a high fever eventually led to the discovery of a 10cm cyst in her womb which required surgery. While successful, the procedure ruled her out of the Games trials and left her distressed.

But the Singapore Wushu Dragon & Lion Dance Federation later arranged a separate session for her and she eventually sealed her spot to Cambodia.

On Thursday, Ong repaid the faith by retaining her crown, scoring a total of 19.206 points over the two segments to finish ahead of teammate Zoe Tan, who had 19.043.

Vietnam’s Hoang Thi Phuong Giang was third in the five-exponent field with 18.933.

For Ong, 20, and Tan, 18, it was the same order they finished at the Hanoi Games in 2022 but an altogether different experience at Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar Convention Centre.

Ong said: “I’m very excited to win again. I knew it was possible, but sometimes there were doubts. It’s been a tough year, especially with my health, after the operation in January.

“When I got here, I saw how much my rivals had improved from last year and I knew I needed to be at my best if I wanted the gold.

“And, unlike last year when I was third after the first round and the chaser, this time I was leading and the one being chased.

“That was quite stressful, too. But I’m glad I gave a good performance today.”

It was a special morning for Jowen Lim, too, as he reclaimed gold in the men’s category after his last triumph in 2017.

He had to settle for silver at the next two editions and came agonisingly close a year ago in Vietnam in the changquan event when he finished 0.001 point behind champion Clement Ting of Malaysia.

He was third overall after Wednesday’s gunshu event and was the penultimate of 11 competitors to execute his craft on Thursday.

Two Indonesians, three-time world champion Edgar Xavier Marvelo and defending champion Seraf Naro Siregar, were done and occupied the top two positions.

While his coaches and officials were busy calculating what score Lim required to clinch the gold – he needed 9.707 – Lim was only focused on the 90sec display coming up.

Even when the scoreboard showed the 9.71 that pushed him to No. 1 with a combined score of 19.386, Lim barely reacted.

Until he turned around and saw his teammate and fiancee Vera Tan jumping and crying in celebration.

Lim, 24, said: “This is our first Games together as an engaged couple and to see her so happy made the moment even sweeter.

“I usually block out everything, all distractions, and focus on my routine, how to execute the jumps. But I can always hear Vera cheering for me, her words of encouragement.

“This gold means a lot, especially after coming so close last year. All the hard work over the past few months have paid off.”