Wushu chief cites 13 podium finishes

JAKARTA – Wushu secretary general Julian Camacho said they missed their target of three golds but still went home satisfied with all but one of their 14 bets getting podium honors.

“Thirteen out of 14. It’s not bad at all,” said Camacho in assessing their performance at the close of the 26th SEA Games wushu competitions Monday at the Senayan Tennis Indoor Court.

“We expected three golds but we ended up short by one because of some bad breaks. But that’s wushu,” Camacho said.

Team Philippines finished fourth in the fight for the wushu overall championship as it nailed two golds in the last day of competitions through Igorot cousins Mark Eddiva and Eduard Folayang.

Eddiva and Folayang fashioned out sensational victories in the last two events in wushu competitions Monday.

The team also bagged four silvers courtesy of Daniel Parantac, Benjie Rivera, Marian Mariano and male duilian squad and three bronzes through Rhea May Rifani, Dember Arcita and the female duilian group.

Indonesia emerged on top with an 8-3-3 gold-silver-bronze harvest, followed by Vietnam with 4-3-5 then Malaysia with 3-3-5.

Camacho said the team will only take a brief rest then return to training in preparation for the forthcoming Asian championship.

The wushu official said they’re now also training young players, preparing them for the possible inclusion of the sport in the 2020 Olympics.

“Wushu has made the short list of the sports being considered for addition to the 2020 calendar. We’re hopeful the sport will make it by 2020,” said Camacho.