The 30th Southeast Asian Games just kicked off on November 30 to much fanfare. So far, the Philippines is off to a great start, winning 22 gold medals on the first day of the SEA Games, four of which were won by women. These wins, along with 11 silver and four bronze medals, as of this writing, is a testament that Filipino athletes are truly world-class.
Triathlon
On December 1, defending champion Kim Mangrobang took home the gold for the women’s individual triathlon held at the Subic Bay Boardwalk in Zambales.
In a video by GMA News reporter Ian Cruz, Kim can be seen crossing the finish line:
The gold medalist wrote in an Instagram post, “Maraming salamat sa lahat ng nanood at supporta!!!!!!”
Wushu
Also on December 1, Agatha Wong dominated the women’s taijiquan in the wushu event held at the World Trade Center. Agatha bagged the gold medal with 9.67 points, Inquirer.net reported.
Agatha is also a 2017 SEA Games Champion as well as a 2018 Asian Games bronze medalist.
On Instagram Stories, Agatha shared her excitement in winning a gold medal as she wrote, “In the Philippines, we call it puso: What the mind cannot comprehend, the heart can. Laban!” She also dedicated her win to Pinoys: “Para ito sa bayan. Para ito sa akin, at para ito sa kapwa kong Pilipino.
Sepak Takraw
The Philippine sepak takraw women's team secured a gold medal for the Philippines at the Subic Gym in Zambales on December 1. Playing coach Deseree Autor, who led the women’s team, defeated Indonesia, 670-660 in the women’s hoop event, Inquirer.net reported.
Kurash
Estie Gay Liwanen won the Philippines another gold as she competed in the female 63-kilogram category of kurash, a folk wrestling style practiced in Central Asia.
These Pinay athletes also took home three silver and two bronze medals for the following sports:
Triathlon
Kim Kilgroe claimed silver at the individual women’s triathlon at the Subic Bay Boardwalk in Zambales on December 1.
Figure Skating
Alisson Perticheto won the Philippines a silver medal in the ladies’ figure skating at the SM Megamall Skating Rink. A 2017 bronze medalist, Alisson scored 132.76 points.
On Instagram, Alisson wrote how excited she was to represent the country at the 2019 SEA Games.
Dancesport
Debbie Mahinay took home silver in the Breaking B-Girls category.
Olympic Mountain Bike
Cyclist Avegail Rombaon secured a bronze medal in the women’s cross country mountain bike in Laurel, Batangas on December 1.
Weightlifting
Mary Flor Diaz won a bronze medal on December 1 at the SEA Games weightlifting event held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. She competed in the women’s 45-kilogram category “after a total lift of 158kg, 70kg snatch, and 89kg clean and jerk,” GMA News reported.
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