Jakarta—Stung by sharp pain with every landing and the bending of her knee, Agatha Wong filtered the pain and delivered the Philippines’ third bronze medal in the women’s taijijian and taijiquan all-around wushu competition of the 2018 Asian Games held Monday at the Jakarta International Expo here on Monday.
Performing second in a field of 16 entries in front of an animated crowd that included Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the 20-year-old Wong finished third with a 9.68 in the taijiquan on Monday to go with a same score of 9.68 in the taijijian Sunday for a total score of 19.36, just enough for her to clinch the bronze and grab her very first medal in her maiden Asian stint.
But while her moves looked flawless at times, Wong said she went through her routine in pain.
“Nahirapan po talaga ako tumapak dahil sa tendinitis ko, tapos hirap ako mag-bend dahil sa knees ko. But I felt relieved kasi tapos na ako and my hard work paid off,” said Wong, who didn’t expect to finish in the podium right on her first try in the Asiad.
“I had no expectations. I just wanted to do my best and I think, I did my best performance. So I think that’s worth it na din for my sacrifices and my family, who always supports me. I just always keep a very positive mindset and that has taken me places already ever since the SEA Games and World Championships,” added Wong, who had an impressive stint in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia with her gold in the taijiquan event and another silver in the taijijian event.
Performing to the tune of “Heal The World,” the La Salle-St. Benilde student tried to focus amid all the noise of a pumped-up crowd, led by Widodo, who came as early at the start of the event and personally witnessed home bet Lindwell Lindwell score a 9.75 first-place performance for a total of 19.50 points and the gold medal.
Juanita Uen Ying Mok of Hong Kong grabbed the silver with 19.42 points.
“I was so nervous because I placed fifth in the first discipline. I had to make sure of an impressive performance in the second discipline so I can have a chance,” said Wong,
Wong’s bronze medal was the third of such color for the Philippine team here, counting the two others from the men’s and women’s poomsae taekwondo teams.
