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.

“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