Taekwondo champ Jin Kun Yong rakes in Gold, Silver and a sporting award
Monash exchange student
Jin Kun Yong is celebrating a successful few weeks, having won a Gold in the
Mixed Pair competition and Silver with the Men’s Team at the 14th
ASEAN Taekwondo Federation Championships in Manila on 4 May.
Just the week before,
Jin Kun was also recognised as the Malaysia Private Higher Education Institution’s
2018 Athlete of the Year.
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Jin Kun received the award from the Malaysia Private Higher Education Institution for his sporting achievements in 2018. Photo: Jin Kun Yong.
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He said it was an
honour to receive the recognition, after “five years of juggling both my
academics and sports”.
“Currently as an
exchange student in Clayton, the biggest challenge is to have the self-discipline
to keep improving while being away from the National team and Coaches, not to
mention balancing my academics in Mechatronic Engineering,” Jin Kun said.
“These achievements
act as a checkpoint for major championships until the end of 2019.”
350 athletes from
eight countries participated in the ASEAN Taekwondo Championships. Jin Kun competes
in the Poomsae division of the sport, which focuses on 'forms' rather than free
sparring.
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Jin Kun said the ASEAN Taekwondo Federation Championships acts a preparation event for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines in December. Photo: Jin Kun Yong
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Jin Kun thanked
TeamMONASH for providing training facilities, and allowing him “flexibility to
adapt my studies with hectic trainings and competitions”.
“Despite the
positive results, I am still learning and will continue to sharpen my skills to
prepare for bigger championships,” he said.
“An athlete never
stops straightening their skills, even beyond what is thought to be
"perfection". We just keep going.”
Written by Nell O’Shea
Carre, Media Coordinator.
