CELEBRATED wushu star Agatha Wong and world-class wakeboarder Raph Trinidad will have the honor to be the country’s flag-bearers during the opening of the 12th World Games on Aug. 7 at the Tianfu International Convention Center in Chengdu, China.
A silver medalist in the taolu (forms) event at the 2023 World Wushu Championships in Fort Worth Texas, Wong and Trinidad, a two-time world wakeboarding silver medalist, will head the huge Philippine contingent that will vie in the quadrennial sportsfest for non-Olympic sports during the parade of nations at the main venue reputedly Asia’s largest wooden infrastructure building.
Both athletes confirmed yesterday that they were given the prestigious role by the Philippine Olympic Committee, led by Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, during the pictorial for the national contingent at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“It is very important that my sport be recognized because it is not as famous here in the country. So for me to be named as the flag-bearer by the Philippine Olympic Committee holds so much gravity,” Wong stressed.
“It is very touching and I am very grateful because I have never been appointed to something so important. It really means so much to me and the Wushu Federation of the Philippines,” she explained. “This is a stepping stone for our sport.
“I will certainly do my best this coming World Games,” added the five-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, a third-year medical student at the University of the East College of Medicine.
Just like in her previous preparations, the willowy beauty said that “it really requires a lot of discipline. Kahit bumabagyo o bumabaha kailangan mong mag-training. I just need to do the sacrifices I need to just to do it.
“The sport (of wushu) gives me so much pride and joy since now that I am older,” added Wong, 27, who began her wushu journey at the tender age of eight.
“This is actually a very surreal experience because I’ve had the opportunity to represent the Philippines multiple times already but this time I have the honor to be one of the flag-bearers in this prestigious event,” Trinidad, 23, said.
“It is such a huge honor and opportunity for me that I don’t take lightly and I assure you that I will put my heart and soul into this event and do my very best,” said the Cebu-born Trinidad, who ruled the men’s open event of the IWWF Asia-Oceania Wakeboard and Wakeskate Championships at the Decawake Clark in Angeles, Pampanga.
With a host of tried and tested international campaigners such as world 10-ball champion Chezka Centeno, world kickboxing queen Hergie Bacyadan and world jiu-jitsu titlist Annie Ramirez competing, the Filipino bets will bid to surpass the country’s lone gold in the previous edition from karateka Junna Tsukii in the 2021 games in Birmingham, Alabama.
