KUALA LUMPUR: Wushu exponent Tai Cheau Xuen struck a sweet note for Malaysia by bagging their first gold in the World Junior Championships in Bali yesterday.

The 17-year-old from Negri Sembilan made it to the top of the rostrum in the girls’ Group A (16-18) nanquan (southern style barehands) event on the second day of competition.

Cheau Xuen garnered 9.41 to beat Indonesian favourite Dessy Indri Astuti to the gold in her first appearance at the world juniors.

Dessy settled for the silver with a score of 9.36 while Vietnam’s Vu Thuy Linh took the bronze with 9.31.

In the medals: (From left) Khang Ching, Cheau Xuen and Phoon Eyin showing off their medals at the World Junior meet in Bali yesterday

Dessy had beaten Cheau Xuen in the nangun (cudgel) event for Indonesia’s first gold medal on Wednesday.

Yesterday’s success was made sweeter by the fact that it was the first time a Malaysian exponent had triumphed in the nanquan discipline at the world juniors, which is held every two years.

Cheau Xuen, who comes from a family of five and who are all involved in wushu, was one of the two exponents from the national back-up squad selected for the SEA Games in Korat last year.

And she proved her worth by taking silver behind fellow Malaysian Diana Bong Siong Lin in the women’s nanquan and nangun combined events.

She also earned a silver and two bronze medals in her debut in the Asian Championships in Macau last July.

Another female exponent from Negri Sembilan, Phoon Eyin, also made it to the rostrum with a silver-medal finish in the girls’ Group C (10-12) jianshu (double-edged short sword) competition.

The 11-year-old was awarded 9.16 for her performance in jianshu (double-edged short sword).

Indonesia’s Thalila Lavita also garnered the same score but had to settle for bronze as the Malaysian had a better artistry rating.

Japan’s Mori Miki took the gold on 9.20.

Malaysia also bagged two bronze medals through two other world juniors debutants Ng Khang Ching and Tee Lian Sheng.

Khang Ching earned 9.23 for his routine in the boys’ Group A daoshu (broadsword), which saw him finish third behind South Korean Co Seung-jae, who had 9.28. Russia’s Ilias Husnutdinov won the gold with a score of 9.40.

Lian Sheng chalked up 9.19 for the bronze in boys’ Group C jianshu, which was won by Hong Kong’s Kwong Yuk Ming (9.22).

Wushu Federation of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee is also banking on Kimberly Goh (girls’ Group A) and Foong Foo Mun (boys’ Group B) to challenge for medals.

“They have international exposure and we hope they can give performances good enough to secure the gold,” said Yong Wee.