Discipline and countless hours of training have paid off handsomely for Asian Games gold medalist Chai Fong Ying, who hails from a family of wushu athletes.

Chai Fong Ying competes in the?women's combined taijijian and taijiquan event at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou Nov 15. [Photo/Xinhua]

"We are happy and proud of her achievement and this is a gift to all Malaysians," her father Chai Chin Chay said at his home on Wednesday.

Chai, 51, who coaches the Malacca wushu team, said he introduced Fong Ying to the martial art when she was four years old.

Fong Ying, 24, won Malaysia's first gold medal in the women's combined taijijian and taijiquan event at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on Monday.

Besides her parents, Fong Ying's younger siblings - Fong Wei, 22, Fong Chin, 18, and Chong You, 15 - are also actively involved in wushu.

Fong Ying's mother Teh Mary, 45, said the family was anxious during the competition as Fong Ying was neck-and-neck on points with the other top contenders.

"My youngest daughter, who was training in Bukit Jalil at that time, said the national wushu coach sent text messages about the gold medal achievement at about 5pm on Monday," said Teh, who is secretary of the Malacca Wushu Association.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam made a surprise visit to the Chai family home in Taman Merdeka, Batu Berendam, to congratulate them.

He said Fong Ying has done the country and state proud and she would be rewarded by the state government for her outstanding achievement.

- The Star (Malaysia)