Pinoy Wushu Players wins one gold, four silvers in 7th Asian Wushu championship

Willy Wang did the country proud again after flashing his old deadly form and winning a gold medal for Team Philippines in the 7th Asian Wushu Championship Thursday at the TaShi gymnasium here.

Wang, also gold medal winner in last year’s World Wushu Championship, totaled 9.65 points to beat Vietnamese Pam Quoc Khanh (9.64) and Hong Kong’s He Jiing De (9.63) for first place in nandao (Southern single-edged sword).

“I am happy I was able to redeem myself. I disappointed many people with my performance in the previous events,” said the 18-year old Wang, the former Asian junior champion.

He also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to San Miguel Corp., FG Foundation for financing the RP wushu team’s training in China and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for sponsoring their trip here.

“My winning the gold medal is my way of saying thank you to them,” he added.

Earlier, Wang, lacking speed in his routine, settled for second place in his pet event – the nanquan (Southern fist) – won by China’s Huang Guangyuan (9.64-9.65 points).

Wushu Federation Philippines honorary life president Francis Chan, association president Julian Camacho, vice presidents Alvin Tai Lian and Ana Gan held a pep talk the night before where Chan announced a P100,000 incentive for every gold won.

Mary Stephanie Agbay and Daniel Parantac placed eight and 17th in taijiquan, respectively.

Four other Filipino bets Mariane Mariano (60 kg), Jason Domingo (48 kg), Dembert Arcita (52 kg) and Benjie Rivera (60 kg) all settled for silver medals after losing in the finals of their respective events against entries from China.

Mariano, who survived a standing eight count to beat Iranian rival to reach the finals, was a gold medal winner in last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

Mark Eddiva is also assured of a silver medal as he is set to clash against an opponent from Macao in the final of the 65 kg.

In the distaff side, May Jane Estimar tries to hurdle Nguyen Thuy Ngan of Vietnam in the 52kg category.