SUKMA more nerve-wracking than World Championships, says national wushu gymnast

Despite his experience on the world stage, national wushu gymnast Eason Yap Yee Zheng admitted that the Malaysian Games (SUKMA) in Selangor 2026 proved more intensely thrilling than the World Championships. Competing for the Melaka contingent, Yap secured the gold medal in the men's taijiquan-taijijian event at the Ideal Convention Centre in Shah Alam. He achieved this by accumulating 19.239 points, earning 9.613 points in taijiquan and 9.626 points in taijijian. This victory came shortly after Yap won a silver medal at the World Taijiquan Championships in Bulgaria in May.

“

I feel SUKMA is more stressful than the World Championships because they are all athletes from other countries. Here, my competition is with athletes from the national team, so it's more stressful.

Yap explained that the pressure at SUKMA felt different compared to international competitions. While the World Championships involved facing athletes from various countries, SUKMA pitted him against his own national teammates. "I feel SUKMA is more stressful than the World Championships because they are all athletes from other countries. Here, my competition is with athletes from the national team, so it's more stressful," he stated. However, he emphasized that he does not fear anyone simply because they are part of the national team.

“

However, I will not think that I am afraid of anyone just because they are from the national team.

The gold medal at SUKMA represents a significant achievement for Yap, capping off a successful year that also included his international success in Bulgaria. He indicated that this victory was the result of long-term planning, as he had been specifically preparing for this championship for one to two years. "This time, to get the gold medal, I really had a feeling I could do it because I have been preparing for a long time, about one or two years," Yap shared. His performance demonstrates his ability to translate dedicated preparation into excellent results at both domestic and international levels.

“

This time, to get the gold medal, I really had a feeling I could do it because I have been preparing for a long time, about one or two years.