Wushu boosts PH’s gold hopes in 2022 Winter Olympics

MANILA, Philippines – If plans don't miscarry, the Philippines will have representatives in the Winter Olympics not just in ice skating but also in wushu.

Wushu Federation of the Philippines president Julian Camacho said he was assured by International Wushu Federation chief Yu Zahi Qing that the sport will be included in the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, China.

"He (Yu) told me when we talked in the last World Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia that wushu will be included in the Winter Olympics when Beijing hosts it in 2022," said Camacho, also the Philippine Olympic Committee treasurer.

"If it happens, we will not only send Michael Martinez or anyone in ice skating but also our wushu athletes," he added.

Wushu has been a traditional goldmine by the country in the international arena and the inclusion of the sport in the Winter Olympics could be a chance for a tropical nation like the Phl to win its first Olympic gold.

The most recent wushu feats came late last year in the World Championships in Jakarta where Herdie Bacyadan and Arnel Mandal struck gold medals.

Wally Wang won a gold in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, but the sport was only considered as an exhibition sport and not as a regular event.

Camacho said the IWF pushed for the inclusion of the Chinese martial arts to the Summer Games but didn't make the cut in both 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Games.

But what it couldn't do in the Summer Games, wushu might make it work in the Winter Olympics.