Sandrex Gainsan spearheaded the Philippine team’s campaign at the 8th World Junior Wushu Championships by copping the gold medal in his pet event in Tangerang, Indonesia recently.
The Quezon City bet displayed his flawless moves in the qiangshu (spear play) event after squeaking past Singapore’s Shaoyang Ian Sim and Malaysia’s Waipeng Hew.
Vincent Ventura and Zion Diaraliay also made heads turn with bronze medals apiece in the nandao (southern broadsword), and 42-step taijiquan.
Gaisan’s gold-medal showing was the country’s fifth in seven junior worlds engagement.
“It is a strong indication of the strength of the Wushu Federation of the Philippines’ junior developmental program,” said WFP President Freddie Jalasco.
“We are elated that the Philippines won the gold in the world junior championships after being absent since 2014,” PH delegation head and WFP secretary general Julian Camacho added.
Meanwhile, sanda athletes Krisna Malecdan (56kgs) and Rhomlaiza Dagson (48kgs) of Baguio City, and Davao City bet Geoff Basto Bustamante (56kgs) failed to advance in the medal rounds.
Foreign coach Li Jian Fang and former Sanda world champion Jessie Aligaga mentored the PHI squad under head coach Samson Co, a back-to-back Taolu world champion.