Diana defers studies in Asiad bid

Diana Bong is going all out to win the gold medal at the Incheon Asian Games in September.

KUALA LUMPUR: Wushu exponent Diana Bong will defer her studies in a bid to capture the gold medal at the Incheon Asian Games in September.
Incheon is likely to be the last Asian Games for Diana and she hopes to win the only title missing from her collection.

Diana enjoyed a successful season last year with a maiden world title on home soil in November before claiming her third career SEA Games gold medal in Myanmar the following month.
She clinched the women’s nandao gold when Malaysia hosted the World Championships in Kuala Lumpur and her triumph in nanquan at the SEA Games was also the first gold for Malaysia in Myanmar.

Despite having tasted success at all levels, the seasoned campaigner insisted her motivation is still strong.

“Incheon will likely be my last Asiad as I do not think I can still be competing in 2019 in Hanoi,” said the Sarawakian, who has been given a week’s leave to celebrate Chinese New Year in Kuching.
“My best result at the Asiad was a bronze in Doha in 2006. I made a few mistakes in Guangzhou four years ago and it ruined my hopes of getting a medal. I ended in fourth place.

“I really want to win the gold this time. To be honest, I will be happy to get a silver, but I am prepared to give it all to get the gold.

“There is a lot of pressure competing at the Asiad as the format usually combines the scores from the various disciplines (nangun, nandao and nanquan).

“There is no room for errors if you want to win,” said Diana, who bagged two golds (nandao and nangun) at the Asian Championships in Ho Chi Minh City in 2012.

“I expect the same group of exponents from the World Championships to be fighting for the Asiad title.

“I have already started preparations for Incheon. I graduated recently and have applied to do my Master’s degree at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) but it will probably be only after the Asiad,” she added.

by Lim Teik Huat - The Star

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