Early blunder sends Parantac to 4th

KUALA LUMPUR – An old knee injury continued to bother Daniel Parantac, a bemedalled Filipino wushu artist who went down in a crushing defeat in the Taijijian event (free style) in the SEA Games wushu competition at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center here yesterday.

Right in the early part of his routine, Parantac committed a landing error that proved his downfall, denying him a three-peat in his pet event in the martial arts competitions.

The first to perform his routine where he earned a score 9.56, Paratac saw himself out of the Top Three after four others had taken the floor and showed their wares.

He eventually finished fourth among eight participants and was so disappointed that he declined an interview.

Jack Chang Loh of the host country took the gold with a score of 9.67, with the silver going to Indonesia’s Bobie Valentinus Gunawan (9.65) and the bronze to Singapore’s Jun Kai Chan (9.62).

“One error cost him the medal. And it’s because of his old injury,” said coach Ching Chi Choy. “Na-outbalance at nag-bounce sa landing. If not for that, he should’ve won the gold.”

“Obviously, he’s still bothered by his knee injury,” Ching also said, referring to the health problem that caused Parantac to miss training for long months.

Still, Parantac set out for action favored to win Taijijian that he ruled in Naypyidaw in 2013 and in Singapore in 2015.

The Baguio native also bagged the bronze medal in Taijijian in the Wushu World Championships in Ankara in 2011.

He competes in another event tomorrow.