We’re halfway through the SEA Games!
Hosted in Hanoi, Vietnam, the current edition of the biennially held sporting event has so far been breeding grounds for excitement and history-making achievements for our national athletes. From reigning champions who have defended their titles to first-time wonders who have brought pride to the Philippine flag, this year’s SEA Games have, no doubt, been a blast to watch!
Of course, among these talented athletes are some Chinoy names that we can’t be any more proud of — we’re engraving them in history as we speak! Check out the bemedalled list here:
EJ Obiena: Breaking another SEAG pole-vaulting record
Proudly the flagbearer for the Philippine team, Obiena easily defended his title in the pole-vaulting event held last May 14. The world no. 6 eclipsed his competitors by first performing a comfortable 5.4-meter jump that guaranteed his gold medal, holding a wide lead of 0.4 meters over fellow compatriot Hockett Delos Santos.
Then, after a short discussion with his coach, the already successful champion cleared 5.46 meters, breaking the 5.45-meter SEA Games record that he had previously set in 2019.
Obiena then once again upped the ante and set the pole level to a staggering 5.94 meters in an effort to break his personal best of 5.93 meters, which is also the current pole-vaulting record in Asia. Although Obiena failed in all three attempts, nothing could take away the celebratory cheers of a gold medal that was already in his grasp.
Agatha Wong: Redemption with a Taijijian gold
There are few more graceful than the satin-clad form of a wushu master, especially when said form also belongs to a veteran SEA Games champion.
Although the three-time gold medalist settled for silver in the taijiquan event, which involves no handling of weapons, Wong more than proved her mettle when she decisively wielded her gold-medal-winning sword in the women’s taijijian event last May 15. She scored a 9.71, leading over Vietnamese competitors Huyan Tram Thi (9.70) and Trang Tran Thi (9.69), who respectively took silver and bronze.
At 23 years old, Wong’s latest achievement just adds to her already impressive resume as a three-peat SEA Games wushu queen. The victory came deserved — after all, she had to spend two months training in a bubble to prepare for the event.
“I’m so thankful,” revealed Wong. “We must remember that there’s a pandemic. So yesterday, I was thankful when I got a silver. Even if it was a bronze, I’d still be thankful.”
Merwin Tan: Ending a bowling gold-medal drought
After 11 long years, the Philippines has finally reclaimed gold in SEA Games bowling! The country has no other to thank than this year’s men’s singles champion Merwin Tan, who topped the competition with a score of 1292, beating out Yannaphon Larpapharat (Thailand) and Ryan Leonard Lalisang (Indonesia), who respectively scored 1286 and 1221. The victory is a Filipino first since Frederick Ong seized the title in 2011.
Meanwhile, the women’s side of the sport also saw success with Alexis Sy clinching a silver medal in her category.
But that’s not all — the Philippine bowling team may still have more chances to increase their medal haul! They are set to compete in the doubles and team of four games in the upcoming days.
Of course, we can’t forget the Chinoy SEA Games medalists who have also clinched silver and bronze medals for the country:
- Alexis Sy: Silver (Bowling – Women’s singles)
- Jollirine Co: Silver (Jujitsu – Women’s 45kg)
- Sydney Sy-Tancontian: Silver (Kurash – Women’s 87kg)
- Alyssa Go: Bronze (Rowing – Women’s Lightweight Quadruple Sculls)
- Marc Alexander Lim: Bronze (Jujitsu – Men’s 69kg)
- Mireille Qua: Bronze (Rowing – Women’s Quadruple Sculls)
- Sandro Antonio Sia: Bronze (Fencing – Men’s Team Sabre)
This is a developing story. Will update you as the medals come in!
