Agatha Wongs Bags 5th SEA Games Wushu Gold Medal For Team Philippines

In a thrilling display of wushu artistry, Agatha Wong once again proved her dominance in the Southeast Asian Games, securing a fifth gold medal in the women’s combined taijijian and taijiquan events at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia Friday, May 12.

Wong, a first-year medical student, admitted that balancing her training and studies was not easy, but her dedication and hard work paid off. She captured the gold medal with a combined score of 19.263 points, posting 9.580 in taijiquan and 9.683 in taijijian, proving her worth as one of the best in her field.

“It’s not easy for me to balance my training and studies. Pag gusto mo, may paraan. Mahirap siya pero kakayanin kasi I really like this sport (If you want it, there is a way. It is hard, but I will continue to strive because I really like this sport),” she said.

Wong’s victory came as a surprise even to herself, as she did not expect to win due to the challenges of juggling her medical studies and her sport. In the taijiquan segment of the competition, she finished third behind Malaysia’s Sydney Chin and Brunei’s Basma Lachkar. However, she regained her footing in the taijijian event and delivered a masterful performance, which helped her win the gold medal.

Wong’s triumph is even more impressive as the taijiquan and taijijian events were combined into one. Despite the change in the format and the pressure of defending her title, Wong remained focused and emerged victorious once again.

Wong’s dedication and hard work are evident in her accomplishments. She won consecutive gold medals in taijiquan at the 2017 and 2019 SEA Games, and in taijijian at the 2019 and 2021 SEA Games. With her fifth gold medal, Wong solidifies her position as a dominant figure in the wushu event.

Apart from Wong’s achievement, wushu also delivered three bronze medals in taolu and sanda. Sandrex Gainsan won in the men’s jianshu and qiangshu events, while Carlos Baylon and Russel Diaz clinched bronze medals in the men’s 56kg and 52kg categories, respectively. Jenifer Kilapio also bagged bronze in the women’s 48kg category.

Wong’s victory is an inspiration to many, especially to those who are pursuing their passion while juggling other responsibilities. Despite the challenges, Wong proves that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.

Wushu is a martial art that originated in China and has gained popularity in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. It is a sport that requires grace, agility, and precision, and Wong exemplifies these qualities with her performance. As a first-year medical student, Wong serves as a role model to aspiring athletes, showing that with discipline and perseverance, one can achieve greatness in both sports and academics.

With Wong’s recent success, she has undoubtedly left a mark on the SEA Games history and has inspired many Filipinos to strive for excellence in their chosen fields. Congratulations to Agatha Wong and the entire Philippine wushu team for their outstanding performance in the 32nd SEA Games!