Mandal keeps lofty billing in wushu world cup

Sanda fighter Arnel Mandal successfully reprised his role as the world’s finest in his weight class.

The reigning world champion again brought his act on the global stage and retained the men’s 52-kilogram title in the 9th Sanda World Cup held in Hangzhou, China, at the expense of Vietnam’s Minh Duc Vu.

“I was aggressive right from the start, but played smart enough not to get hit and lose the match,” said Mandal after getting even with the former champ who defeated him a couple of years back.

His weight category scratched during the recent Asian Games in Indonesia, the 23-year-old reigning Asian Sanda Cup champ also toppled Algeria’s Benghenem Abdelkarim on his way to the finals opposite Vu.

Abdelkarim eventually settled for the bronze medal.

Mandal, a prized find from Iloilo, first became a world champion when he snatched the gold medal in the 2015 World Wushu Championships.

“He’s one of the most successful fighters that we have. Arnel was good for the gold in the Asian Games had his weight class been allowed,” said Wushu Federation of the Philippines secretary general Julian Camacho.

Also contributing to the Philippine coffers were veteran fighters Francisco Solis and Divine Wally.

Solis, a two-time Asian Games bronze medalist in 2014 Incheon and 2018 Palembang, failed to join Mandal on top of the podium after bowing to Kang Li of China in the men’s 56 kg finals.

Aiming to defend her 2016 world title, Wally lost to China’s Dai Shimeng in the semifinals of the women’s 48 kg class and settled for the bronze medal.

The Philippines ended up fifth overall among 23 countries with the one gold, one silver and one bronze.

Iran ruled the worlds with seven golds while host China captured six golds followed by third-placer Russia (two golds) and South Korea, which brought home one gold, a silver and two bronzes.