Wally sets record for Philippines with two international wushu golds

This will go down for the record.

Baguio's Divine Masadao Wally has become the first member of the Philippine Wushu Team to win gold medals in two world wushu combat competitions in a year.

The 19-year-old Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health (Mapeh) student of the University of the Cordilleras clinched the gold medal in 48-kilogram category in the 8th Sanda World Cup over the weekend in Xi'an, China.

Wally, who traces her roots in Sadanga, Mountain Province, routed Farida Elsodany of Egypt in the finals after she outpointed Luan Thi Hoang of Vietnam in the semi-finals.

Last September, Wally won a gold, which was the lone medal won by the Philippine Team in the 9th Asian Wushu Championship in Taipei.

Exactly a year ago, Wally won gold in the 13th World Wushu Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia to become the first ever female member of the Philippine Wushu Team to win gold in international combat event.

Overall, Wally won three golds in international competitions from November 2015 to November 2016.

She became a member of the Philippine Team in 2013.

Other members of the RP Wushu Team have won two gold medals in international events but not in both the World Wushu Championship and Sanda World Cup.

The Wushu Federation of the Philippines also reported that Arnel Mandal, 21, of Iloilo, won gold in the 8th Sanda World Cup.

Another Cordilleran fighter, Hergie Bacyadan, 21, of Kalinga won silver in the female 65kg after bowing to Sharhbano Mansouriyan Semiromi of Iran, while Francisco Solis, 26, of Iloilo won a bronze medal.

The WFP said the two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal haul is the best performance yet for the Philippine Team in the Sanda World Cup. The last time the country won two golds and one silver in Sanda World Cup was in 2006.

The Sanda World Cup, sanctioned by the International Wushu Federation, drew 72 of the finest wushu sanda from 27 countries, and competed in 18 men's and women's categories.

Wushu sanda is an ancient Chinese kung fu that combines punching, kicking, and wrestling.

Wally said she has no more international tournament left towards the end of this year but training will resume early next year in preparation for ASEAN and world tournaments.

Published in the Baguio Midland Courier issued November 13, 2016 | Article by Harley F. Palangchao

University of the Cordilleras (UC) roared their way to the top after bagging seven golds including three silvers and two bronze medals to win the overall title in the taekwondo competition at the resumption of the 32nd Baguio - Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL).

University of the Cordilleras students will lead six Cordilleran athletes who will be part of the 335-member Philippine delegation to the 18th Asian Games set from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2 in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia.

Cordilleran wushu pride Divine Wally of Baguio and Hergie Bacyadan of Tanudan, Kalinga contributed a gold and silver medals to Team Philippines in the 1st Sanda Asian Cup in Foshan, China over the weekend.

Aimed at promoting the diverse cultures of the six provinces of the Cordillera region, the University of the Cordilleras' Saeng ya Kasay Cultural Ensemble performed at Chonbuk National University (CBNU) in Jeonju, South Korea.

University of the Cordilleras Jaguars unseated defending champions University of Baguio Cardinals to be the new overall champion at the close of the Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League Season 30.