Wushu bet Balangui trips US foe, assures Team PH of Universiade medal
TAIPEI—Jomar Balangui turned savior for Team Philippines as he beat Isiah Ray Enriquez of the United States, 2-0, on Monday and assured himself of at least a silver medal in wushu in the 29th Summer Universiade at Hsinchu County gym here.
The 19-year-old Balangui’s lopsided 5-0, 3-0 triumph over Enriquez in men’s sanda-52 kg pushed him into the finals against Chinese Peng Yuan Tuesday night.
Balangui, a prized find from University of Baguio, will dispute the gold medal with Peng Yuan of China. Yuan routed South Korean Seongji Byron, 5-0, 5-0, in the other men’s sanda 52-kg semifinal.
Article continues after this advertisement“This is another big achievement for our country,” said David Ong, president of the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, which sent 130 athletes to the 141-nation biennial meet.
In the 2011 Shenzhen Universiade, taekwondo’s Samuel Morrison bagged a silver medal while in the 2013 Kazan (Russia) Universiade, Grandmaster Wesley So won the men’s chess individual gold. —ROY LUARCA
