RP bet bags two wushu golds in world tiff

Petite Maureen Liang completed a golden double and Garry Cua also delivered to highlight the national wushu team’s impressive performance in the just-concluded second World Traditional Wushu Championships in Zheng Zhou, China.

Counting the gold medal by Lester Pimentel in the nanquan or the southern style Wednesday, the four-man Philippine team brought home four golds, three silvers and a bronze to underscore the country’s status as one of the world’s leading practitioners of the sport.

"We prepared hard for this tournament but we did not expect to win four golds. This is great for wushu, I hope others will take this sport," said Pimentel. "In wushu, you don’t need the height, what you need is patience and perseverance."

In a picture of supreme confidence, Liang got his campaign off to a rousing start when she ruled the animal form by using the mantis style.

She also reigned supreme in the non-conventional weapon event to emerge as one of the most decorated athletes in the event that gathered 68 countries worldwide. Non-conventional weapons include a fan, bench, curret, umbrella or any other things that can be used as a weapon for self-defense.

Combining speed, power and grace, Cua topped the shaolin fist as he outshone even his seasoned Chinese rivals. But he settled for a silver in the non-conventional weapon.

Rica Bitara was the only Filipino who failed to win a gold but she consoled herself by winning two silvers — one in animal form. Her other silver came in the double broadsword event.

Pimentel, 32, settled for a bronze in the non- conventional event. Still, he was overwhelmed by his performance after almost giving up the sport some years back.

Though traditional form of wushu is not included in the 15th Asian Games this December, the Philippine Wushu Federation, headed by Julian Camacho, hopes that the success of Liang, Pimentel, Cua and Bitara will inspire the Doha-bound athletes.

The trip of the RP team was made possible through the support of SM Sports Central and Philippine Sports Commission.