SEA Games: Agatha Wong defends wushu title, Daniel Parantac bags bronze

By Joseph Almer Pedrajas

Philippines’ Agatha Wong defended the gold medal in the women’s taolu taijiquan competition after finishing with 9.67 points in the 30th Southeast Asian Game Sunday morning — a performance dedicated to her late 11-year-old teammate.

“I would like to dedicate my performance to my old teammate Rastafari Daraliay who recently passed away,” Wong said, who got emotional in an interview with the Manila Bulletin after she remembered her fellow wushu athlete.

Daraliay passed away in Sept. after reportedly falling from the top bunk of a double-deck bed inside the athletes’ dormitory at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate. “This is for him.”

“I also dedicate my performance to my family. They’ve been supporting me since January,” Wong said, confident that her grandmother witnessed her full performance from home.

The 21-year-old Wong secured her second consecutive SEA Games gold medal— the first one in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia two years ago—at Taolu Taijiquan competition through a swift and sharp performance, despite having “no [specific] specialty” at wushu.

“I don’t think I have specialty. I just tried my best,” she said when asked if Taijiquan is her strong suit.

The reigning gold medalist also said she did not expect to win and was just happy after being able to deliver her performance.

“I have really bad cramps and my feet hurt. This year, I just trained all year round so we were all very fatigued.”

Wong’s notching of gold at the World Trade Center was the second for the Philippines. She performed fifth in the competition which started at 9 a.m.

Brunei Darussalam’s Basma Lachikar placed second with 9.55, followed by Vietnam’s Thi Minh Huyen Tran with 9.53.

Aside from Wong, who performed at her home court, Lachikar also got huge supporters. But the country’s athlete did not feel any pressure while delivering the discipline.

“There’s no pressure in it. I’m really happy that they also have many supporters although they are here in the Philippines. It’s a good sports,” she said.

Meanwhile, during men’s taolu taijiquan, Philippines’ Daniel Parantac bagged bronze medal after garnering a score of 9.56.

Malaysia earned the top spot at 9.68 points while Brunei came next with 9.59.

Source: Manila Bulletin