Last month, Samuel Wong and Chang Song Jie won gold for their handcrafted violas at the 20th International Violin Making Competition in Italy. (Deciso Fine Violins pic)

PETALING JAYA: Just after Malaysia Day, Samuel Wong and Chang Song Jie gave the country another reason to celebrate - thousands of kilometres from home in the Italian town of Pisogne.

On Sept 19, the two luthiers - makers of stringed musical instruments - won gold at the 20th International Violin Making Competition organised by the National Association of Artistic Italian Lutherie (Anlai).

Wong won in the professional viola category, while Chang took the honour in the professional antique-style viola category.

“The first thing that came to mind when I learnt I had won was, it was definitely worth flying all the way to Europe!" Wong quipped.