Wushu artists bag 17 medals in world tiff

The Philippine team made a smashing performance in the recent first World Traditional Wushu Festival in Zheng Zhou City, Hunan province, China by winning 17 medals, including five golds.

Master Henri Lo of the Kong Han Martial Arrts Club led the RP charge by capturing two gold medals in the event which lured 2,300 athletes from more than 60 countries.

The other gold winners were Master William Soon of Ling Nam Athletic Club, Master Lou Mei Cheng of Mei Cheng Shaolin Kung Fu and the doubles team of Lester Pimentel and Richard Ng.

Soon, Cheng and Ng also bagged a silver medal each.

The other medalists were Thomas Pradel (two silvers), Henry Sy (one silver and one bronze), Richard Haw (one silver and one bronze), Ana Tongco (two bronzes), and Vincent Borromeo and the doubles squad of Josephine Lim and Ma. Lourdes Chan, one bronze each.

Traditional wushu’s routine, introduced thousands of years ago, puts more emphasis on self-defense and fighting form, unlike today’s wushu competition which is more sports-oriented.

More than 40,000 Shaolin monks performed during the opening ceremony held at the Shaolin Temple, birthplace of Chinese martial arts.

Francis Chan, honorary president of the Wushu Federation of the Philippines, presented a thesis on traditional wushu in a congress held during the festival.

RP delegation leader Alvin Tailian praised the RP team composed mostly of masters from different local martial arts clubs for its remarkable showing.

Master Lo and Pimentel, a former world wushu champion, served as coach and captain, respectively, of the team.