RP’s wish for wushu: Gold or maybe silver

BUSAN, South Korea – Wushu, the ancient Chinese martial art form that had become a mainstream Asiad event, takes center stage today with the Filipino artists hoping to add to the two-gold haul of Team Philippines going into the last five days of the Asian Games.

Former world champion Mark Robert Rosales and Arvin Teng, last year’s gold medalist in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, will compete in the men’s changquan at the start of hostilities at the Dongseo University Minseok Sports Center.

"Everybody is in high spirits and raring to go. The competition is tough we vow to give it our best shot," said Julian Camacho, president of the Wushu Federation of the Philippines.

Rosales, who trained for four and a half months with the rest of the team in China, and Ting will clash with their respective opponent in the changquan three-event combine at 12 noon.

The 22-year-old Rosales has been regarded as the spearhead of the team’s bid, having won the 1997 World Championship in Italy and the one of the country’s five silvers four years ago in Bangkok, but coach Samson Co said the other Pinoy artists may pull off some surprises and earn podium finishes.

"We have a lot of potentials for the gold but we don’t want to name them this early because it may give undue pressure," said Co who was gold medalist in the 1991 Manila and 1993 Singapore SEA Games.

Also competing today are newcomer May Lim in the women’s taijiquan two-event and SEAG veteran Janice Hung in the changquan three-event combine.

Four other Filipinos will see action in the men’s sanshou preliminary round at 2:30 p.m. Rexel Nganhayna and Edward Polayang are entered in the 65-kg category while newcomer Marvin Secomen and Joseph Pasiwat vies in 52-kg and 60-kg, respectively.

"I cannot promise to win the gold but I can assure everyone that I will be doing my best. Malalakas ang kalaban," said Rosales.

Despite the presence of the powerhouse Chinese, Co said that artists from Myanmar and Vietnam are a force to reckon with. "Magagaling lahat dito but we can expect good showing," he said.

Wushu actually accounted for two silvers in the 1998 Bangkok Asiad, the other won by Rolly Chulhang, now semi-retired.