Wushu bets make impact in World junior meet

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine wushu team is back from its successful stint in the fourth World Junior Wushu Championships in Macau where it bagged one gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

Alieson Ken Omengan, a 14-year-old high school student from La Trinidad, Benguet, flew home last Sunday with the gold medal in the men’s Nangun B (for 12 to 15 years old) hanging around his neck.

“I trained five months for this. Sulit naman (It was worth it). I trained while I studied,” said Omengan who also won a silver medal in the Nanquan and was fifth in the Nandao events.

It was the first international competition and certainly not the last for Omengan, winner of two silver and one bronze medals in the 2012 Philippine National Games in Dumaguete.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr. hailed the young athletes as the future of Philippine sports, reminding them that wushu may soon become part of the Olympics.

“It’s very gratifying hearing that our youth are winning medals in international competitions. I have in my midst the future champions. Who knows? You can win our first Olympic gold medal,” he said.

“Nag-iintay ang mga kababayan natin. Gusto nila ng ibang champion. Para hindi naman palagi si Manny Pacquiao (Our countrymen are waiting. They want to see champions other than Manny Pacquiao),” the POC chief said.

Others who shone for the Philippines in Macau were Faith Liana Andaya, who took the silver medal in the women’s Jianshu C (for those aged 7 to 12 years), Noel Alabata, who won the bronze in the men’s 48 kg and Jean Claude Saclag for the other bronze in the men’s 56 kg.

The medalists, along with teammates Josel Casem, Vanessa Jo Chan, Zereena Redge Dumsing and Agatha Chrystenzen Wong, were treated to a victory luncheon yesterday by the country’s top sports officials.

“You did a very good job,” said Wushu Federation of the Philippines president Tan She Ling, who was joined by former WFP presidents Jimmy Ong and Julian Camacho, WFP Baguio Chapter president Tansuitong Candelaria and coaches Tong Qinghai, Liu Yuzhen, Bobby Co and Mark Rosales.

The Philippines won one gold and one bronze during the last World Junior Wushu Championships in Singapore in 2010, and the Macau stint was a marked improvement.

“The medal was the reward for all the hard work,” said Candelario, who said Omengan works hard in training everyday even if they don’t have a permanent training venue up in Baguio City.