RP Wang claims gold in wushu

BEIJING – Willy Wang gave the Philippines a good measure of pride last night when he won the gold medal in the combined nanquan/nangun event of the Beijing 2008 Wushu tournament here.

Wang, a gold medalist in last year’s World Championships, also in Beijing, won the gold with 19.44 points. Taipei’s Pe Wei Thuan took the silver with 19.39 points while Malaysia’s Pei Fu Zhun settled for the bronze with 19.34 points.

Medals won in wushu will not reflect in the overall standings of the ongoing Olympics.

“Still, we are all very excited here,” said Philippine Wushu Federation honorary lifetime president Francis Chan in an overseas call to Manila.

First Gentleman Mike Arroyo witnessed the victory, and was so excited, too, according to Chan. Arroyo supported the RP wushu team that competed here along with San Miguel Corporation.

“The First Gentleman was very happy that our National Anthem was played. We couldn’t get any medal in the other sports. We were not fortunate enough. At least we won the gold in wushu,” said Chan.

“We lost in every other event here. We at wushu never said so much but we won the gold. This is the result of our athletes’ eight months of training here in China,” he added.

Marian Mariano also assured herself of a bronze by reaching the semifinals of the sanshou or combat event where she will next face an Iranian.

Benjie Rivera and Mary Jane Estimar will see action Saturday morning, hoping to follow Wang’s footsteps, and win the gold.