Former Indonesian wushu star Lindswell Kwok has begun a new chapter in her career as a coach for Indonesia’s national wushu team, overseeing the taichi discipline as the country prepares for the 2026 Asian Games.

The 2018 Asian Games gold medalist said her years as an athlete taught her the importance of balancing discipline with communication when developing competitors.

“I was always coached by senior trainers who were very disciplined and focused on competition preparation. They never had a big ego as coaches—the priority was always the athletes’ achievements,” Lindswell said.

Lindswell hopes today’s athletes can develop the same mental toughness that characterized previous generations. She emphasized that athletes must be willing to accept criticism and use it constructively. 

“An athlete needs a very tough mentality. We must accept criticism, determine what is valid, identify what needs improvement, and understand what simply needs to be acknowledged,” she said.

Known as Indonesia’s “Queen of Wushu,” Lindswell noted that modern athletes face different challenges, particularly in the era of social media where mental health issues are discussed more openly. However, she stressed that resilience remains one of the most important foundations for success in elite sport. She pointed out that many athletes in the past continued to pursue excellence despite having fewer resources, recognition, and support than athletes receive today.

As a coach and a member of the Indonesian Wushu Federation’s Athletes Commission for the 2026–2030 term, Lindswell believes communication is essential for maintaining a healthy coach-athlete relationship. 

“The key is communication. Senior coaches who seem strict are often successful because they communicate effectively. If communication between coaches and athletes works well, everything else will work better too,” said Lindswell, who won 21 gold medals during her competitive career.

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