Agatha Wong during the taijiquan/taijijian event of the 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on May 12, 2023. POC/PSC Media/File
Wushu star Agatha Wong gets her first crack at World Games glory for the 47-strong Team Philippines when she vies in the combined women's taolu taijijian event at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre Gymnasium on Friday in Chengdu.
One of the best medal hopes of the country in this multi-sport competition for non-Olympic sports, Wong competes in the qualification round at 10:15 a.m. and the finals later in the evening at 7:50 p.m.
The 27-year-old Wong boasts two World Championship silvers and five Southeast Asian Games gold medals, making her one of the favorites to land at the podium and a marked rival for Singapore's Zeanne Law, Malaysia's Sy Xuan Chin, and Ukraine's Oryna Ivanova.
"I did all the work, the training, and as long as I do my best in my event I think I am going to be okay," Wong said.
READ: Team PH optimistic as Chengdu World Games opens
Competing at 8:30 p.m. in combined men's taolu taijijian is Benguet pride Jones Llabres Inso, who, likewise, targets a seat in the finals set Saturday.
Meanwhile, cable wakeboard bet Raph Trinidad and wake surf contender Eric Ordonez will try to impress the judges and claim tickets in the medal round when they execute their routines starting at 11 a.m. over at the Sancha Lake Arena.
Rudzma Abubakar, the lone muay thai participant well-supported by the Chef de Mission himself, Stephen Arapoc, goes into action in the women's 48kg division at the Sichuan Gymnasium at 1 p.m.
"I really prepared well for this," said Abubakar, whose campaign is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission. "They just reminded me to believe in myself."
Earlier in the day, the men's floorball team absorbed a 12-2 loss against Latvia in their group stage battle at the Xindu Xiangcheng Sports Centre.
READ: PH floorball team bows to Latvia in World Games opener
Melvin Mendoza and Simon Larano tried to carry the fight for the Filipinos who were visibly outhustled by the taller and more physical Latvians.
All is not lost for the Nationals as they try to bounce back against Sweden on Saturday and Switzerland the following day.
The World Games officially opened on Thursday night at the Tianfu International Convention Center, with Wong and Trinidad serving as the flag-bearers for Team Philippines.