PH WUSHU SQUAD COPS SIX GOLD MEDALS

WUSHU star Agatha Wong snared her second gold medal when she topped the women’s taolu taijijian (straight sword) competition of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) on Tuesday morning at the World Trade Center Hall A in Pasay City.

Wong logged 9.65 points to complete a double gold feat following her triumphant crown- retention bid in tajiquan last Sunday.

But it was never an easy journey for the 21-year old athlete, who bested eight other participants from six countries to rule the taijijian event wherein she settled for silver in the previous edition.

“I’ve been through a lot — injuries, setbacks, failures, and other experiences mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well. But I’m glad that I’m standing here today

on a good note,” she said.

“I got to a point where I’m really tired and I just want to rest for a few days. But it’s not possible because we have to keep on training every day. I endured the pain, blood and sweat,” she added.

The College of St. Benilde alumna once again overwhelmed her closest competitors in Vietnam’s Tran Thi Minh Huyen ( 9.63 points) and Brunei Darussalam’s Lachkar Basma (9.62 points), who got the silver and bronze, respectively.

Also proving to be a bright spot for the Philippine wushu squad was the trio of Jones Inso, Johnzenth Gajo and Thornton Sayan that snagged the bronze in the men’s duilian (duel).

The PH troika tallied 9.49 points, good enough for them to land on the podium behind Indonesia’s trio of Horatius Harris, Edgar Marvelo and Seraf Siregar (9.54) and Brunei’s duo of Joel

Wushu star Agatha Wong performs her winning routine in the women’s taolu taijijian (straight sword) competition of the 30th Southeast Asian Games on Tuesday morning at the World Trade Center Hall A in Pasay City. feran Roslan (9.50).

Meanwhile, Divine Wally ( 48kg women), Jessie Aligaga (48 kg men), Arnel Mandal (52kg men), Francisco Solis ( 56kg men) and Clemente Tagubara ( 65 kg men) won gold medal each while Fred Padua ( 60kg men) settled for silver medal.

Wally defeated Vietnamese followed by Aligaga’s victory over Permana Ade of Indonesia, while Mandal won over Pratama Laksa

Solis beat Widiyanto Yusuf while Tabugara defeated Thai Suksanguan Kittisak for the gold.

Padua lost to Vietnamese Bui Truong Giang to settle for the silver medal.