‘Only through enduring hardships can one achieve more,’ This is the motto of Angela Wong, a fourth-year student in the Department of Computer and Information Science and a member of Henry Fok Pearl Jubilee College at the University of Macau (UM). Angela has practised martial arts every day since the age of eight, and after years of training, her dedication paid off. At the 31st FISU World University Games, Wong defeated the world’s strongest competitors in Nanquan (Southern Fist), winning Macao’s only gold medal at the games and returning home in triumph.
The gold medal that makes Macao proud
The 31st FISU World University Games was postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but finally took place this year, drawing top athletes from countries and regions around the globe. Undeterred by the intense competition, Wong remained focused and gave her all. Her exceptional performance in the Nanquan event, which features both agility and strength, earned resounding acclaim from the judges. She surpassed her rivals with near-perfect scores and won the championship, bringing honour to Macao.
Wong’s victory is more than just a personal accomplishment; it is also an inspiration for other young Macao athletes. Ao Ieong U, secretary for social affairs and culture of the Macao SAR government, congratulated Wong and praised Macao athletes for their unwavering dedication and perseverance. UM Rector Yonghua Song, who travelled to Chengdu in a show of support for the Macao team, witnessed Wong’s stellar performance first hand. He expressed immense pride and excitement and also encouraged other students to pursue their athletic ambition.
Prior to her triumph in the women’s Nanquan event, Wong had already secured a bronze medal in the Nandao (Southern Broadsword) event. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to compete in the World University Games in Chengdu, Sichuan. ‘In the past few years, many major sporting events have been postponed or cancelled due to the pandemic. I really miss the thrill of competing against the world’s best athletes,’ she says. ‘When I first heard about my win, I couldn’t believe it and my mind just went blank. It wasn’t until I was up there on the podium that it really hit me—I won the gold medal.’
Living the university life to the fullest
While devoting herself to martial arts training, Wong also manages to maintain a balance with her academic pursuits. In 2019, she was admitted to UM’s Department of Computer and Information Science and was awarded the Golden Lotus Scholarship in recognition of her outstanding performance in the admission exam. Now in the fourth year of undergraduate study, Wong embraces the belief that the pursuit of knowledge and martial arts training can go hand in hand and complement each other.
‘The academic study at UM helps me refine my logical thinking, which is also useful in martial arts training,’ Wong says. ‘Whether it is programming or martial arts, there are always multiple paths to get to the top. Everyone’s body is different, so it is important to adapt and find the martial arts style that fits you best.’ She uses her study of aerial moves as an example and explains how she fine-tunes her movements by leveraging biomechanics and strengthens her core muscles based on her physical condition. Over time, her consistent effort has granted her enhanced control over her body, making her martial arts moves more precise.
In her spare time, Wong enjoys UM’s vibrant campus life. As a member of Henry Fok Pearl Jubilee College, she actively engages in activities with students who share similar interests. She is also a member of the Cocktail and Coffee Learning Society of the UM Students’ Union, where she spends her free time exploring mixology and coffee. ‘I have met a lot of interesting people and gained many different experiences through the activities organised by the residential college and student associations. Those activities help me to relax. Proper rest, both physically and mentally, is crucial to maintaining peak athletic performance,’ she says.
Growing up with martial arts training
Wong’s prowess in both fists and swords is extraordinary. Indeed, this level of martial arts mastery does not come easy—it is the result of years of extensive practice and unwavering commitment. She recalls how, as an energetic child, she was captivated by a martial arts performance at her school’s Chinese New Year celebration. She was so impressed by the somersaults and flashing blades that she asked her mother to take her to a martial arts school.
Since her second year of primary school, Wong has received intensive martial arts training every day after school and even on weekends. She often had to deal with injuries while juggling her schoolwork. For Wong, the hardest time was when most of her classmates only had to focus on their studies and prepare for university entrance exams, while she had to take care of her martial arts training at the same time. Whenever she struggled to keep up, Wong’s mother’s words, ‘only through enduring hardships can one achieve more’, echoed in her mind and served as a constant source of motivation.
‘Thanks to my passion for martial arts, I remain true to my original aspiration. I am glad that I managed to survive those challenging times to become who I am today,’ Wong says. She is also grateful to her parents for their encouragement and support, as well as to the Wushu General Association of Macau, especially her coach, Iao Chon In, for accompanying her all the way and helping her overcome obstacles in competitions.
Wong has excelled in numerous martial arts competitions. In 2016, she won two gold medals in Nanquan and Nangun (Southern Staff), as well as a silver medal in Nandao at the 6th World Junior Wushu Championships in Bulgaria. In 2020, she claimed three gold medals in Nanquan, Nangun, and Nandao at the Macao Junior Wushu Championships.
Opportunities only come to those who are prepared
Before the World University Games, Wong felt a bit under the weather but managed to adjust her condition in time. Despite her nervousness, she threw herself into the competition and eventually scored 9.643 points, beating the Uzbek athlete by 0.01 points to win the gold medal. ‘This gold medal really gives me a boost and encourages me to continue my martial arts journey. I look forward to representing Macao in bigger competitions in the future,’ she says.
Wong, who is in the final year of her undergraduate study, plans to pursue a master’s degree and hopes to gain more experience at upcoming competitions. ‘An athlete’s career is short. I want to give it my best shot and see how far I can go,’ she says. She also encourages young athletes to persevere with their studies and training, as opportunities only come to those who are prepared.
Source: My UM ISSUE 126
「吃得苦中苦,方為人上人。」這是澳門大學電腦及資訊科學系四年級、霍英東珍禧書院學生黃心妍的座右銘,亦是從小她的母親的鼓勵。自八歲起,她每天都練基本功,經過長年累月艱苦訓練,終於初現鋒芒,在第31屆世界大學生夏季運動會(下簡稱:世大運)上擊敗各地南拳強手,為澳門奪得今屆賽事唯一金牌,凱旋而歸。
奪金為澳爭光
靈巧綿密,剛柔相濟,是黃心妍在南拳競賽上的表現。今屆世大運是疫情後首度復辦,各個國家及地區紛紛派出一線運動員出戰。面對世界強手,黃心妍保持平常心,發揮應有水準,深得評委一致讚賞,更以近滿分的佳績力壓對手,贏得南拳冠軍,為澳爭光。
黃心妍不僅憑佳績為澳門奪得首面金牌,也向健兒傳遞砥礪奮進、勇攀高峰的正能量。澳門特區社會文化司司長歐陽瑜向她送上祝賀,讚揚澳門運動員積極堅持長期訓練,不怕吃苦與永不言敗的拼搏精神,對廣大青年起到積極正面的鼓勵作用。澳大校長宋永華專程赴往成都,為澳門代表隊打氣。當目睹黃心妍在場出色表現,他感到非常興奮和驕傲,並以此勉勵學生追求自己的體育夢。
在女子南拳比賽前,黃心妍已在南刀競賽奪得銅牌。她表示,慶幸在運動員生涯能參加四川成都世大運:「過去幾年,眾多大型賽事因疫情而延期或取消,久違與世界強手同場較量的滋味。當得悉佳績時,簡直難以置信,腦袋一片空白,直至站在頒獎台最高點,才真切感受到摘得金牌。」
享受多元的大學生活
黃心妍全心投入武術訓練,但也從不鬆懈學業。2019年,她以優異成績考入澳大電腦及資訊科學系,獲頒金蓮花奬學金,可謂文武兼備。今年大四的她認為,探索知識與習武如出一轍,彼此修為相得益彰。
「大學課程能鍛煉邏輯思維,對習武大有裨益。無論編程還是武術,修成正果的路徑往往不止一條,每個人體格各異,要隨機應變,找出最適合自己的習武方式。」她以學習騰空為例,解釋如何以人體科學的角度思考動作的協調性,因應自身體格鍛煉核心肌肉。透過堅持不懈,她逐漸探索出控制身體力度的方法,令習武動作更精準。
課餘時,黃心妍享受在澳大生活的時光,感受多元校園生活。她是霍英東珍禧書院的學生,最喜歡在書院接觸趣味相投的同學,一起參與活動,她也是澳大學生會調酒與咖啡研究會成員,空閒時與同學一起研究調酒與咖啡。「我在書院和學生組織遇到很多有趣的人和事,能讓我放鬆身心。適當身心休息對運動員保持良好狀態至關重要。」
刀光劍影下成長
如今,黃心妍揮拳舞刀的氣勢稱得上巾幗不讓鬚眉。要達至如斯武術造詣,全靠日常辛勤練習。她憶述自幼活潑好動,小時候被學校新春聯歡會的武術表演吸引,打空翻、刀光劍影等招式令她難以忘懷,於是就請求母親帶她報名學武。
小學二年級起,她每天下課後參與密集式的武術特訓,週末也不例外。她要兼顧習武和學業,而且不時訓練期間受傷,最艱苦的時期莫過在高中準備升讀大學。當時她眼看多數同窗只有學業上的煩惱,而她卻要同時要克服訓練的挑戰。每當感到難以為繼時,她就會想起母親的話:「吃得苦中苦,方為人上人」,咬緊牙關,堅持下去。
「幸好,因為熱愛武術,我還是堅持了初心。非常慶幸能熬過那段艱難的時間,才有了現在的自己。」她感恩父母的鼓勵和支持,以及澳門武術總會,尤其是她的教練尤俊賢,一直陪伴她在不同的賽事披荊斬棘。
她在多場武術賽事成績卓越,如2016年在保加利亞的第六屆世界青少年武術錦標賽中奪得南拳和南棍兩金、南刀一銀;2020年第26屆澳門青少年武術錦標賽奪得國際競賽南拳、南棍和南刀奪冠。
機會只留給有準備的人
世大運開賽前,黃心妍身體稍感不適,幸好當日回復狀態。雖然賽前一直處於緊張狀態,但一踏上賽場,她馬上全情投入於武術世界,最終取得9.643分,以0.01分之差擊敗烏茲別克選手奪金。「這面金牌是強心針,激勵我堅持練武,期待未來繼續代表澳門參與更大型的賽事。」
作為應屆畢業生,黃心妍正考慮攻讀碩士學位,同時期望在未來比賽中獲得更多經驗:「運動員生涯短暫,我想全力以赴,看看能走多遠。」她鼓勵有志成為運動員的同學,不論在學業或訓練上都要持之以恆,因為機會只留給有準備的人。
來源:《澳大人》第126期