Nagoya, Japan, September 21, 2026: Razor-thin margins separated the top four athletes, who all finished within a hundredth of a point of each other in the women’s Wushu Changquan during the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.
Hong Kong China’s Lydia Sham Hui Yu secured the gold medal with a score of 9.713, closely followed by Macao, China’s Sou Cho Man, who earned the silver with a 9.710. Indonesia’s Widodo Eugenia Diva captured the bronze with a 9.706.
Reflecting on her victory, Sham described the triumph: “It’s like a dream. I have been waiting for this moment.”
The women’s Changquan (long fist) event proved once again how elite athleticism, brilliant acrobatics, fluid transitions and power make for thrilling viewing. The depth of the field was fully on display as the top contenders finished fractions apart, leaving judges to rely on strict execution metrics to determine the final standings.
Continuing her remarkable streak on the international stage, winner Lydia Sham added another crowning achievement to her legendary career. A dominant force across multiple disciplines, the Hong Kong standout arrived at the Asian Games after sweeping gold in the combined events at The World Games and capturing World Championship titles. Beyond her technical brilliance on the mat, Sham has increasingly become a global ambassador for the sport.
Achieving this pinnacle required years of dedication. Discussing her rigorous preparation, Sham said: “I have prepared for the Asian Games for years.” In the finals, her ability to perform under pressure separated her from a competitive field, allowing her to edge out her rivals by the slimmest of margins and secure the gold for Hong Kong, China.
For her triumph, Sham earned HK$1 million incentive under the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme which awards gold medallists in individual events at the 20th Asian Games.
Rounding out the elite top four, Iran’s Zahra Kiani finished just off the podium in fourth place with a brilliant 9.703. She can be proud of her grace and composure during an event where the top four athletes were separated by a mere 0.010 points.