Wushu artists bag silver in duilian

NAW PYI TAW –Daniel Parantac and John Keithley Chan executed their choreographed routine almost flawlessly in a show of grace and power in China’s ancient martial art of wushu and won the silver in the duilian, missing the gold only by a whisker for  the country’s first medal three days before the formal start of the 27th Southeast Asian Games here yesterday.

Parantac and Chan scored 9.62 points, finishing second to Myanmar’s Kyaw Zin Thit/Wai Phyo Aung (9.64) who underscored the host country’s readiness to dominate the sport and their bid for at least a sixth place finish in the 11-nation, 12-day biennial competition.

Thailand won the bronze through the 9.60 of Baramee Kulsawadmongkol-Pitaya Sae Yang in a routine supported by female member Sujinda Sae Yang.

The Philippines had Norlence Ardee Catolico as third player on the mat.

Duilian is a dual or pair event which features some form of sparring with or without weapons, or even using bare hands against weapons.

Even before the SEA Games could formally open Dec. 11, the host country, occupying no higher than sixth in the overall standings since 1977, exploded into the overall lead with six golds and one silver, five of them  coming from chinlone, a Burmese sport  which means basket-rounded or rounded basket.

Overall defending champion Thailand  had 2-2-1 gold-silver-bronze medals to show while Vietnam and Malaysia had one each.

With its lone silver, the Philippines ranked eighth in a tie with Indonesia, with Cambodia sixth with 0-2-2.

The boxers plunge into action tomorrow with a seasoned team consisting of six men and four women,  minus Charly Suarez who was sidelined by injury a month before the SEA Games.

Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga, Asian Games gold medalist Rey Saludar and Mario Fernandez are tipped to carry the gold medal hopes in the men’s side which includes Wilfredo Ramos Lopez and Dennis Galvan, while defending champion Josie Gabuco and Nesthy Petecio are the top contenders in the women’s category which includes Maricris Igam and Irish Magno.

Notes: In chinlone, a  team of six players pass the ball back and forth with their feet, knees and heads as they walk around a circle. One player goes into the center to solo, creating a dance of various moves strung together. The soloist is supported by the other players who try to pass the ball back with one kick. When the ball drops to the ground it is dead, and the play starts again… The Philippines has no entry in the sport.