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By Emil C. Noguera, Correspondent
THE Philippine wushu squad bagged five gold
medals in the First Huangshan Wushu Taolu Championships held
November 19-22 in Beijing, China.
Manila Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Pedro
Quina and silver medalist Janice Hung started the country’s
campaign on a high note, with Quina topping the men’s nangun event
while Hung dominated the women’s taijiquan.
SEAG-bound Daniel Parantac and siblings Mary
Evangeline and Mary Stephanie Agbay also made their presence felt as
they emerged victorious in their respective divisions.
Parantac won the men’s taijiquan gold while
Mary Evangeline grabbed the spotlight in the women’s nangun as
Mary Stephanie secured the team’s fifth gold medal in the
women’s taiji jian.
“This is a good indication of a fruitful
performance in Thailand SEA Games. Our athletes are really doing
well and we are hoping to continue our winning form,” said Wushu
Federation of the Philippines lifetime honorary president Francis
Chan after the Filipinos won five of 12 gold medals at stake in the
tournament.
Just recently, the Philippines won five medals,
including one gold coming from Willy Wang, 9th World Wushu
Championship in Beijing.
Despite facing tough challenges against
perennial SEA Games title contenders Malaysia, Vietnam and
Singapore, Chan disclosed that the 11-man wushu team is good enough
to finish with three gold medals.
“This is a proof that our athletes are
prepared enough. We are aiming to win at least three gold medals.
Hindi naman kami nagpe-predict ng masyadong mataas para hindi
ma-pressure ang mga atleta natin. Kung lalampas tayo sa tatlong
golds mas maganda,” added Chan.
“Vietnam and Malaysia also performed well in
the World Championships kaya magiging matindi ang labanan sa SEA
Games. Talagang naghanda silang lahat para bigyan ng magandang laban
ang Pilipinas sa wushu. Marami rin silang tinanggal na events na
malakas tayo,” he added.
Besides Wang, Quina, Hung, Parantac and Mary
Stephanie, also part of the team are world champion Benjie Rivera,
Jason Domingo, Mark Eddiva, Mary Jane Estimar, Jennifer Lagilag at
Marianne Mariano.
The Philippines won 11 golds to clinch the
overall title when it hosted the SEAG two years ago.
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