Jointly reported by:
Leong Jomin Sr2ScE
Yeo Ju Xuen Sr2ComA
Photography by:
Lee Cheng Wei Sr2ComB
Wong Kah Mei Sr2ComB
The 12th Asian Junior Wushu Championships (AJWC 2025) were held in Jiangyin, China. A delegation of 20 young athletes from Malaysia participated in this international event, achieving a remarkable total of 17 medals: 4 Gold, 6 Silver, and 7 Bronze. It truly is a phenomenal achievement! Amongst the talented youth in the championships, Lee Cheng Wei from Kuen Cheng High School demonstrated her skills in the Girl’s Changquan category and earned a fantastic silver medal. We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Lee Cheng Wei and learn more about her inspiring journey in wushu (Chinese martial arts).
To kickstart the interview, we asked how Cheng Wei had felt after winning silver in the Girl’s Changquan category. She expressed how she was both extremely happy and surprised by the result she had achieved. According to her, she believed she wouldn’t win any medals after witnessing the skill of the other participants firsthand. Yet she was immensely proud and joyful to achieve a silver medal amongst such talented young competitors.
(Photo 1: Cheng Wei competing in the Girl’s Changquan category)
(Photo 2: Cheng Wei joyfully displaying her silver medal)
Lee Cheng Wei’s journey on the path of wushu started at the very young age of 6. According to her, she had followed the footsteps of her brother, who also practices wushu, and started training herself as well. She noted how she did not initially have the burning passion for Wushu, unlike herself today, yet the longer she practiced wushu, the more passionate she had become. She became a state representative at the age of 9. This is without a doubt due to her hard work combined with her passion that bore such a great impact on her journey and led her down the glorious path of success.
(Photo 3: Cheng Wei competing in the Jianshu category)
To further understand how she trains, we presented her with more questions relating to her training routine. Cheng Wei continued to share the intense training schedule, which showed how much time she has spent cultivating her skills to become the wushu practitioner she is today. She typically trains wushu for 3 hours a day, 6 days a week. She spends time after school to train and perfect her art, showing signs of determination and perseverance that are ever enduring and indomitable. She spends the last day of the week in the gym, toning her muscles and building the strength needed to perform wushu. She also mentions that she searches for tutorials online as references to try and replicate as a way to improve her skills in this sport. It was surprising to know how much time and effort she spends in her everyday life to contribute to the art of wushu, and how she never backs down in the face of adversity nor submits to the stress that is imposed upon her.
Cheng Wei revealed that her training was at times harsh and vigorous, and she had to face various trials and tribulations. On some days where training was more intense than usual, she would sustain some injuries which had hindered her ability to train at maximum capacity. To cope with her injuries, she had to take some rest days to recuperate. As an athlete, it is prudent for one to take enough rest to recover strength to ensure that all is well to continue training. This is said as to an athlete, their body is their greatest asset.
Being an athlete and a student is also no daunting task, as she has to tend to her studies by day and training at night. Sometimes she also has to take leave from school to participate in competitions. To juggle both lives, she completes her homework in school and relies on her friends to take notes for her when classes are missed so that she can catch up to her academics. As she is currently a Senior 2 awaiting to sit for the national exam — SPM, she also mentions that she will take some time off from her wushu practices to focus on her studies. Emphasizing the significance of maintaining a balance between academics and her training.
Now for the pivotal question: ‘If you had the opportunity to start over, would you choose to pursue the path of wushu once more?’
“Absolutely, I would.”
She claimed that wushu was her passion, and she would dedicate her life time and time again to mastering this form of art. Truly an inspiration to many young aspiring athletes. To that, she attributes her successes to her family and her coach. She is grateful for her family’s encouragement as she continues to embark in her wushu journey and to her parents for taking the time to send her to her practices through rain or shine everyday. She also thanks her coach for imparting their knowledge onto her, guiding her through every step of the way, from showing her the right form and posture for each and every move.
(Photo 4: Cheng Wei happily sharing her wushu journey at the interview)
Finally, she imparts advice to all aspiring athletes, noting that they should give their all during training to achieve their best and to listen to their coaches on ways to improve their form. It is also important for an athlete to take enough rest and not to overwork themselves.
Cheng Wei’s story is one of true dedication and diligence. When passion comes face to face with hard work and patience, all aspirations can be brought to reality. In conclusion, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Lee Cheng Wei for the opportunity to interview her. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
