Agatha vacates throne with a smile

HANOI – Agatha Wong’s reign as SEA Games queen of taijiquan in wushu came to an end yesterday when the graceful Filipina bowed to Alisya Mellynar of Indonesia at the Cau Giay Sporting Hall here.

The 23-year-old Wong, winner of the taijiquan gold in the 2017 and 2019 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur and Manila, gave her best but failed to gain the nod of the judges with her score 9.69.

Mellynar took the gold with 9.71 while Sy Xuan of Malaysia bagged the bronze with 9.68.

Wong was the prohibitive favorite in the form event and was a delight to watch inside the small venue packed with spectators who wore face masks and observed other protocols except social distancing.

“I’m still grateful for the silver kasi two months lang ang training namin. I wasn’t expecting anything,” said Wong, a silver medalist in the 2015 World Championships in Jakarta.

Wong was the last to compete among nine competitors, and, in her silky purple uniform, performed to the delight of the crowd.

She carried her beautiful smile to the awarding ceremony and vowed to do her best today when she tries to defend the title in the taijijian event.

“Basta okay yung form ko and okay yung performance ko okay na ako dun. Wushu is a battle with yourself,” said the Filipina with Chinese blood.

The gold medal continued to elude the Philippine wushu team after an impressive 7-2-2 haul three years ago.

Jones Inso, who bagged the silver in men’s taijiquan last Friday, became a double-medalist when he took the bronze in the men’s taijijian where Daniel Paratac came in seventh.

“We still have a shot at three gold medals tomorrow,” said Wushu Federation of the Philippines president Freddie Jalasco.

A total of 12 golds will be at stake in the sport’s final day of competition today.