Wushu's Tai Cheau Xuen has shown the way, says Zolkples

National wushu exponent Tai Cheau Xuen has shown the "Malaysia Boleh" spirit by winning the gold medal in the women's Nanquan/Nandao event at the Incheon Asian Games here Saturday, said National Sports Council director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong.

Speaking to reporters here, he said she was up against the world's best exponent (China's Wei Hong) in the event but this did not deter her from winning the gold medal, Malaysia's first in this 17th edition of the Asian Games which officially opened on Friday.

"Today (Saturday) is only the first day of the Games and we could not have asked for a better start. I hope her feat will inspire our other athletes to achieve our eight gold medal target in Incheon," he said.

On medal hopeful Diana Bong's performance in the same event (Diana finished last), Zolkples said she made the same mistakes she did at the last Asian Games in Guongzhou, China four years ago, but nevertheless had given her best.

Meanwhile, Malaysia's chef-de-mission Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah said he personally felt that the national contingent would exceed the target.

"Tai (Cheau Xuen) who was not a gold medal hopeful gave us a bonus gold medal, this is a pleasant surprise," he said.