CHENGDU, China. — Carlos Baylon Jr. delivered an inspired performance in front of a massive and enthusiastic crowd here, dominating Islam Karimov of Kazakhstan 2-0 to win the bronze medal in the 2025 World Games on Tuesday at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre Gymnasium.
Baylon was the aggressor right from the get-go, scoring on several takedowns while also utilizing his striking prowess to tear down his Kazakh foe.
“I am just happy to win this bronze medal,” said Baylon, who won the gold in the IWUF 10th Sanda World Cup in Jiangyin, China last April. “I hope I can win more tournaments and give pride to our country.”
It was a sweet victory to end the wushu team’s campaign in this modern city, with Krizan Faith Collado earlier bowing to Vietnam’s Thi Phuong Nga Ngo in their own battle for third match.
Team Philippines now has a silver and bronze with five days left in the competition and got the motivation it needed to reignite the fire and make a final push, with 10-ball contender Chezka Centeno advancing to the semifinals and the men’s floorball team scoring a massive win against the host nation.
Centeno, 26, the 2023 world 10-ball champion, beat Spain’s Mayte Ropero, 7-2, and will face Shasha Liu of China, the three-time 9-ball titlist, in the crucial round at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
“I am confident because I have beaten Shasha several times before,” Centeno said shortly after her match. “I will do my best to advance to the finals and take home the gold medal.”
Liu defeated Soledad Ayala 7-4 in the quarterfinals.
From Paris Olympics boxing to World Games kickboxing, Hergie Bacyadan was just as good as advertised, scoring a 3-0 win over Valentina Keri of Hungary in the women’s K1 70-kilogram quarterfinals.
Bacyadan, the pride of Kalinga Province, regained her composure after a tight first round, taking advantage of her height and reach advantage to pounce on her rival and book a semis duel versus Portugal’s Catarina Dias on Wednesday at 8:15 p.m.
“I will do my best and study my opponent,” who reached the Round of 16 in the Paris Games last year.
Dias, meanwhile, beat Brazil’s Carolina Sousa Santos 3-0 in their quarters showdown.
Centeno and the rest of the Filipino athletes and team officials are supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee, headed by President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, and the Philippine Sports Commission.
Over at the Xindu Xiangcheng Sports Centre, the men’s floorball team demolished China 14-0 in their classification match for seventh place to close out its campaign on a high note despite its lopsided losses to European teams in previous days.
Kim Rosello registered five goals, while Melvin Mendoza and Simon Larano had three each to punish their continental rivals and move forward to their goal of reclaiming the gold in the Southeast Asian Games set in Thailand, the reigning champion, late this year.
“We executed well,” said Philippine Floorball President Marco Ortiz. “This is the highest level of competition in the world, and being here is already a win for everyone.”
The victory could ease the pressure on the shoulders of the remaining players here, with ju-jitsu 52-kilogram silver medalist Kaila Napolis and Annie Ramirez bidding adieu in the women’s open ne-waza contest early in the day.
All is not lost for the Philippine contingent seeking more Chengdu glory, with hopes also pinned on sambo, powerlifting, and duathlon.
Among the strongest bets is Aislinn Yap, the world No. 1 sambo athlete, who is plunging into action on Thursday.
“I am still optimistic that we can still bag a gold,” Chef de Mission Stephen Arapoc said. “It is usually dark before dawn.”
