Sports QUEEN AGATHA EXTENDS REIGN

By Jun Lomibao

PHNOM PENH—Agatha Wong’s routine included a sword but it wasn’t how she handled the weapon that always catches the judges’ eyes—it’s her grace, poise and form.

Wong did what she does best in the Southeast Asian Games and won a wushu gold medal in women’s combined taijiquan and taijijian

Friday at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center. She amassed 19.263 points—9.580 in taijiquan and 9.683 in taijijian—to capture her fifth SEA Games gold medal.

Wong was back-to-back taijiquan champion in Malaysia 2017 and Philippines 2019 and bagged two consecutive taijijian crowns in 2019 and Vietnam 2021.

C ambodian organizers merged the

(19.160) after the taijiquan segment on Wednesday but surged ahead with a masterful showing in taijijian.

“ If you set your goal, there’s always a way,” she said. “But I really love my sport.”

Wushu also delivered bronze medals in taolu through Sandrex Gainsan (men’s jianshu + qiangshu) and in sanda behind Carlos Baylon (men’s 56kg), Russel Diaz (men’s 52kg) and Jenifer Kilapio (women’s 48kg).

CATANTAN HURT, SETTLES FOR FENCING SILVER

SAMANTHA CATANTAN injured her knee in the semifinals and settled for the silver medal when she could no longer fight on. C atantan fell on the mat, moments after securing a point that sent her into the women’s foil artilage seemed to have popped behind the back of her left knee when she moved after she lunged at semifinals foe Kemei Chung of Singapore.

A fter a short rest, Catantan still found the courage to continue as she took the last two points to beat Chung, 15-6, and set up a return showdown with her last year’s opponent Maxine Wong, also of Singapore.

Sadly, Catantan never got to play a rematch with Wong, who eventually won the gold medal after the country’s top Filipina fencer conceded on advice of her coach and medical personnel, who told her to not make her injury any worse.

Catantan, with her knee wrapped in bandage, followed the advice, and no longer engaged Wong in what could have been an exciting finals’ rematch.

C atantan, who flew from the United States days before her matches, was in good shape when she swept her five-game assignment in the pool stage.

Philippine Fencing Association president Richard Gomez, who was in the crowd with Philippine Sports Commission board member Walter Torres, also a former SEA Games fencing champion, felt heartbroken on Catantan’s situation.

C hristian Concepcion also fell out contention with Daniel Villanueva with his 1-4 slate in the men’s sabre group stage.

Loyzaga

Loyzaga diligent CDM of Team PHL

PHNOM PENH—Team Philippines chef de mission Chito

Loyzaga is confident Filipino athletes would bounce back amid difficult adversities in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games that is winding down to the last four days of competitions. “ My trust and confidence are always there for our Filipino athletes. It’s still a long way to go and I believe they will give their best to win, to bring home glory for our country,” Loyzaga said Friday. “They will keep fighting for glory.”

A s chef de mission, Loyzaga has given priority to the welfare and safety of the Philippine delegation.

He is smoothly doing his job, making sure the athletes returning home, like the bets in jiu-jitsu and karate, are all accounted for while welcoming incoming athletes in weightlifting and taekwondo at the Athletes’ Village at the Morodok Techno National Park.

It’s the first time that Cambodia is hosting the SEA Games and everything won’t be perfect,” he said. “So although there are some glitches in hosting, we made sure everything is fine, that our athletes and coaches are secured and safe.”

We made sure the support system of the athletes is okay,” he added. Loyzaga added he’s not focusing on the current performance of the athletes because Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Dicky Bachmann are monitoring their performances.