KUCHING: Stephanie Ngu Chai Ern’s passion for wushu transcends boundaries, and at just 20 years old, she has already made a name for herself as a trailblazer in the sport.
She bagged Sarawak’s first gold in the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma) recently, however she is not only focused on her own achievements but is also dedicated to nurturing the next generation of wushu athletes.
“Currently, I am just going into coaching and at the moment helping to coach wushu athletes (here) in Kuching,” she said.
As a testament to her commitment, she took on the role of judge at the recent 2024 Sarawak Youth Open Wushu Championship, where young talent showcased their skills.
“I train wushu students across Kuching,” she told New Sarawak Tribune when met recently.
Having spent over a decade honing her craft, Stephanie’s life revolves around wushu.
When asked about her other interests, she smiled and admitted, that it is only wushu.
“It’s just wushu for me. Although I do enjoy watching a bit of Korean drama in my downtime,” she said.
She also loves to travel, listing South Korea, as her favourite destination.
Hailing from Sibu, Stephanie has a soft spot for kampua mee, often choosing it over the more popular kolo mee.
“I have been in Kuching for 9 years, since I was 11 years old,” she said.
Her recent success at Sukma has also come with a financial reward of RM45,000, which she plans to invest wisely for her future.
“This incentive is a stepping stone for further investments and (my) further studies,” she explained.
She shared that she hopes to get a Diploma here in Kuching.
Reflecting on her victory, Stephanie revealed that winning gold at Sukma was a thrilling surprise.
“I’ve never won before – this is my first! I trained intensively for about four months leading up to the competition,” she shared.
Her journey in wushu was sparked by her older brother, who practiced the sport in school.
“I have one elder sister, two older brothers and one younger sister. I am the fourth child, and altogether there are five of us.
“Watching him (Stephanie’s older brother) ignited my interest, and I slowly followed in his footsteps,” she said.
With her eyes set on the future, she is determined to inspire and elevate the next wave of wushu talent in Sarawak, proving that dedication and passion can truly take you to new heights.
Stephanie won three gold medals in women’s changquan, women’s jianshu and women’s qiangshi.
