Wushu athlete Nandira Mauriskha won the second gold medal for Jakarta at the Papua PON after getting the highest score in the Women’s Taolu Chang Quan at the Futsal KONI Sports Building, Merauke District, Papua on Wednesday.

Mauriskha was awarded a score of 9.70 by the jury, while newcomer Zoura Nebulani of West Java became runner-up with 9.67 points.

East Java’s Natalie Chriselda Tanasa took home a bronze medal after scoring 9.65.

Earlier, Mauriskha, who had missed the 2016 PON in West Java due to an injury, said she was very satisfied with her opening performance in her second outing at PON.

“I am very satisfied because I could do the best,” Mauriskha, who also won gold in Wushu at the 2012 PON at Riau, said when contacted in Merauke.

“The preparation was quite heavy. Every day we trained every morning and evening. Our breaks were only on Sundays. The coaches and the athletes have worked hard as well,” she remarked.

Earlier the same day, Jakarta’s Edgar Xavier Marvelo won the gold medal in Men’s Taolu Chang Quan with a score of 9.72.

Wushu has become the first sports branch to be contested in Merauke. Matches of women’s soccer, fencing, wrestling, chess, and motorsport will also be held in the district.

The Wushu event is being held from September 29 to October 3, 2021, with athletes competing for 23 gold medals in two Wushu disciplines: Taolu (techniques) and Sanda (Chinese boxing).

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will officially launch the PON XX National Games at the Lukas Enembe Stadium, Jayapura District on October 2, 2021, as confirmed earlier by the Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali.

Source: Antara News