Wushu Queen reigns on

CHONBURI – Worry not Team Philippines, Agatha Wong got your back.

The Pinay wushu star who’s been dominating the region since 2017 gave Team Philippines a smashing triumph in the late morning sessions – a welcome change after the long wait for gold until dusk the past three days – in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.

A five-time winner in the four previous SEA Games, Wong was in her element again, delivering a dazzling performance in the culminating sword part of the women’s Taijiquan-Taijijian event to extend her reign and put that glowing sixth mint in her bag.

With her combined 19.556 points built around a rock-solid 9.773-point performance in the Taijiquan last Saturday and a strong 9.783 closeout in yesterday’s Taijijian, Wong bested her challengers and ensured the playing of the “Lupang Hinirang” by noontime at the Rattha Prasasan Bhakdi Building in Bangkok.

The next mint came late in the afternoon through the judokas, who made history by ruling the mixed team event for the first time in history.

Chino Sy, ruler of the men’s 100kg the other day, joined forces with Daryl John Mercado, Randy Ferrera Jr., Gabriel Benedict Quitain, John Viron Ferrer, Joemari-Heart Rafael, Rhya Garay, Esleken Kedo, Margaret Fajardo, Maxine Mababangloob and Khrizzie Pabulayan in beating hosts Thailand for the plum.

The conquests of Wong and the judokas brought Team Philippines’ golden take to 17 as of 8 p.m. with 31 silvers and 71 bronzes.

Four bets from practical shooting - Edcel John Gino (Men’s Open Practical Shooting Production Optic Individual), Rolly Nathaniel Tecson (Men’s Open Practical Shooting Standard Individual), Genesis Pible (Women’s Open Practical Shooting Production Optic Individual) and Erin Mattea Micor (Women’s Open Practical Shooting Individual) – seized a substantial lead against their respective opponents. They seek to wrap it up with a strong performance in today’s final round.

Triple gold-winning swimmer Kayla Sanchez added two more silver medals from the women’s 50m Freestyle (25.03) and 4x200m freestyle relay (8:11.55).

It was a sweet victory for Wong, who’s now splitting her time between her athletic career and med school.

“This has been the hardest year for me,” said the comely six-time SEAG gold medalist, who delivered Team Philippines’ 16th gold overall in the Thailand meet.

“I really just tried to do my best because it’s not everyday you get an opportunity to represent your country. So now that ended my year with a gold medal, I’m really happy.”

Though winning many times over, Wong admitted having doubts pre-competition.

“Every time I go to the SEA Games, I feel like I’m going to lose. When I flew to Bangkok I was really scared but I trained really hard and I gave it my all. Now I’m going home a champion so it’s very emotional for me,” she said.

Complementing Wong’s gold were shooter Michael Angelo Fernandez (men’s individual 10m Air Pistol) and jet ski bets Anton Nicolas Ignacio (Mixed Runabout 1100 Stock) and Anton Nicolas Ignacio (Mixed Runabout 1100 Stock) who earned a silver each.

Hidilyn misses podium finish

In Chonburi province, Tokyo Olympics weightlifting champ Hidilyn Diaz missed out on the podium, placing fourth in the women’s 58kg class with 200 kgs (90kg snatch and 110kg clean and jerk).

“First, I want to say sorry. But I did my best and this is my best for now dahil may injury ako (knee) at nahirapan ako mag-drop weight kasi lumaki ako. Pero ‘yun nga, it’s not an excuse.  At the end of the day, hindi ako sumuko. I’m happy to represent our country,” said Diaz, medal-less for the first time since the 2005 SEAG at home.

Olympians Chris Nievarez and Joanie Delgaco, meanwhile, put themselves in position for rowing’s medals after making strong runs during preliminaries at the Royal Thai Navy Rowing and Canoeing Training Center in Rayong.

Nievarez, a veteran of Tokyo, ranked second in the men’s single sculls heats at 8:27.130 behind Indonesia’s Memo (8:25.130) to advance to the finale.

Delgaco, who rowed in Paris, teamed up with Kristine Paraon in clocking third in the women’s double sculls heats behind counterparts from Vietnam (8:17.719) and Thailand (8:19.428) to advance.

Zuriel Sumintac, Reine Art Poblete, Romnel John Acosta, Edgar Ilas, Daryl Pangantao, and Kenneth James Lantong also moved on to the gold medal race in the lightweight men’s quadruple sculls after coming in fourth in the heats (7:34.716).

The finals will be on Dec. 16.