By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Wushu’s Carlos Baylon Jr. led the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) monthly achievers for April.
Baylon, who hails from La Carlota City in Negros Occidental, delivered a breakout performance at the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) 10th Sanda World Cup in Jiangyin, China, where he anchored a one-gold, two-bronze haul for the country.
Competing in the men’s 56kg class, Baylon pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory over 2024 Wushu World Championship bronze medalist Hio Lam Ku of Macau in the semifinal round. In the final, he prevailed over Saydullo Abdurashitov of Uzbekistan, 2-0.
“I’m so happy, after playing for so many years, I finally won the gold medal and the World Cup,” said the 27-year-old Baylon in an interview on Thursday. He has been with the national team for 11 years.
Sydney Sy Tancontian of sambo, Allain Ganapin of para taekwondo, as well as the surfing and kickboxing teams were the other monthly achievers.
Sy Tancontian defeated Mongolia’s Ser-Ochir Buyanzaya, 3-0, in the women’s +80kg division final at the Asia and Oceania Sambo Championships in Uzbekistan.
Her teammates also won medals, with Aislinn Yap topping the women’s -80kg combat play and Richmond Revina taking the silver in the men’s -64kg SVI-1 sport sambo category.
Ganapin, who competed at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, settled for the bronze medal in the men’s K44 -80kg category at the 7th World Taekwondo President’s Cup – Asian Region in Tai’an, China.
The Philippine surfing team placed third in the ISA World Longboard Championship in El Salvador with 2288 points, behind France (2865) and USA (2335). Jay-R Esquivel won the bronze in the men’s individual play.
The Philippines delivered eight golds, four silvers, and 10 bronzes at the 1st Thailand Kickboxing World Cup in Bangkok.
Meanwhile, world No. 4 pole vaulter EJ Obiena won a gold medal in Chinese Taipei while Alex Eala had an impressive showing in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Obiena overcame foggy conditions at the Taiwan International Pole Vault Championship, clearing the bar at 5.50 meters to beat American Matt Ludwig (5.30m).
Eala, on the other hand, scored victories over three grand slam champions, including No. 2 Iga Swiatek, at the Miami Open to improve her world rankings from No. 140 to No. 75. She even reached a career-high No. 72 last month.
The 19-year-old Filipina made it to the Round of 32 at the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal. At the WTA 1000 Madrid Open, she triumphed over No. 64 Viktoriya Tomova of Bulgaria, 6-3, 6-4, but bowed to Swiatek in the next round, 6 -4, 4-6, 2-6. (PNA)
