Folayang eyes gold in SEA Games

Roderick Osis

SOUTHEAST Asian Games Gold. This will be the next mark for Filipino mix martial arts (MMA) fighter and wushu multi-medalist Eduard Folayang.

And after the biggest win of his career, Folayang is set to return to the mat anew as he joins other Philippine bets in the upcoming 26th Southeast Asian Games to be held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia in November.

The 26-year-old MMA fighter who trains with Team Lakay Wushu was initially offered another stint in One Fighting Championship in December but the Universal Reality Combat Championship welterweight title holder said he begged off.

“I am supposed to be included in the next event but I had to beg off because I will be competing in the SEA Games,” added Folayang.

Folayang hopes to pick up another gold in November’s SEA Games, where he has dominated in the last two editions. He has also bagged a bronze in the 2005 World Wushu Championship aside from a silver (2006) and a bronze (2002) in the Asian Games.

Veterans and Baguio-based wushu campaigners John Keithley Chan, Mark Eddiva, Benjie Rivera, Folayang, brothers Daniel and Denver Parantac, and Thornton Quieney Lou Sayan will banner the 18 man field in the biennial competitions.

Joining the group are Jessie Aligaga, Mary Jane Estimar, Engelbert Andongan, Denbert Arcita and Eleazar Jacob.

Completing the team are female wushu artists Rhea May Rifani, Marianne Mariano, Kariza Chan, Kathlynn Sabalburo and Natasha Laxamana.

The five female wuhsu players are also based in the city.

The group was culled from the recently concluded Philippine National Games where Baguio won 41 gold medals, including 28 silver and 14 bronze medals in the wushu competitions and where the Summer Capital bagged the over-all title.

The Wushu Federation of the Philippines also lined up a three- to four-month build-up program in Taijuan, China under an agreement forged by the Philippine Sports Commission and its Chinese counterpart.

Unlike last year, the Philippine team will have ample training to prepare for the twin tournaments the country is committed to participate in.