A total of 47 athletes, led by wushu star Agatha Wong, wakeboarding ace Raph Trinidad, and billiards legend Rubilen Amit, will represent the Philippines in the 12th edition of the World Games set to take place in Chengdu, China, from August 7 to 17.
The World Games is an international multi-sport event featuring disciplines not contested in the Olympic Games. Since its inception in 1981, the Philippines has won a total of two gold, five silver, and five bronze medals in the tournament.
“We’re eyeing a significant improvement at the Chengdu World Games compared to the previous edition in Birmingham,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
In the 2022 pandemic-delayed Games in Birmingham, the Philippines managed to bag a lone gold medal through karateka Junna Tsukii. Meanwhile, reigning world 9-ball champion Carlo Biado previously delivered gold in the 2017 Wroclaw Games in Poland.
Tolentino also announced that Wong and Trinidad will serve as the country’s flag bearers during the parade of nations at the opening ceremony on August 7, which will be held at the Tianfu International Convention Center.
“This is going to be our largest delegation in all World Games editions. I am praying for more medals — especially gold,” Tolentino said.
Wong, 27, a five-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and two-time World Championships silver medalist, will compete in women’s taolu taijiquan (bare hands and sword).
“I’m grateful to carry the flag,” Wong said during a send-off photo shoot organized by the POC on Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. “I feel so blessed for the opportunity to compete in the World Games for the first time.”
Wong qualified for Chengdu by clinching silver at the 2023 World Wushu Games held in Texas.
Trinidad, the 2024 IWWF Asia and Oceania champion in wakeboarding, expressed his excitement about making his World Games debut.
“It will be my first time competing, and I expect tough competition,” he said. “All world-level events are competitive, but I believe the World Games will be even more so. I’m thankful to be named flag bearer, too.”
‘Watch and learn young padawan,’ the veteran master Rubilen Amit lines up a shot as the younger champion Chezka Centeno looks on
The Philippine contingent includes a wide range of athletes from various non-Olympic sports.
Amit, a two-time world 10-ball champion, will headline the billiards squad alongside Jeffrey De Luna and Chezka Centeno. In jiu-jitsu, Kayla Napolis and Annie Ramirez will see action, while kickboxer Hergie Bacyadan and muay athlete Rudzma Abubakar will also compete.
Powerlifters Joyce Reboton and Reggie Ramirez, sambo athlete Aislinn Yap, and triathletes Kim Mangrobang, Franklin Yee, Bea Quiambao, Maynard Pecson, John Patrick Ciron, and Merry Joy Trupa round out the list.
Also part of Team Philippines are wakeboarder Eric Ordonez and wushu athletes Faith Collado, Carlos Baylon, and Jones Inso.
The floorball squad features 14 players, while the dragon boat team is composed of 12 paddlers.
The Philippine delegation will be led by chef de mission Dr. Jose Raul Canlas.
