In a sport long dominated by familiar faces, 19-year-old Jazmin from Malaysia is rewriting the script. The Indian-Malaysian teenager recently made waves by winning two gold medals at the 9th World Kung Fu Championship in Hong Kong — first place in Women's Other Barehand Routines and Women's Nandao (Southern Broadsword) — along with a silver in the group routine event. Her success has shattered ethnic stereotypes in a discipline traditionally synonymous with Chinese culture.

"When I saw my name at the top of the scoreboard, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. I felt proud to have brought honor to Malaysia," Jazmin shared. Aware that she stands out among her peers, she embraces the difference: "I may not be the typical image of this sport, but I bring a fighting spirit and a great purpose."

Educated at a Chinese private school in Seremban — a path her father Waran Shanmugam also took — Jazmin discovered wushu at age six by mimicking her older brother Juztin's movements. After failing to medal in her first competition, her father suggested she quit.

"But Jazmin firmly said she wanted to try again the next year. That determination convinced us her passion was real," Waran recalled.

She never came home without a medal again.

Training six days a week for three hours daily, Jazmin admits the journey has demanded sacrifice, particularly time with friends. She has even considered giving up, but pushes through with mantras like "I Can Do It" and "I Will Finish The Race." As she once shared on a podcast:

"People don't look at whether I'm great or have gold medals. They see an Indian girl doing wushu and they're already amazed. That itself motivates me."

Her message to aspiring young athletes is simple:

"The world is full of things that can scare us, but the key is to act even when the fear is there. Be brave and keep moving forward."

Jazmin, who idolizes badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei, hopes to eventually study Criminology in Britain while continuing to push boundaries in the sport she loves.

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