by Harley F. Palangchao
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TOP SEAG BET -- Cordillera’s Divine Wally (4th from left), the most bemedalled female member of the Philippine Wushu-Sanda National Team, is one of the top favorites to win gold in the upcoming 30th Southeast Asian Games to be hosted by the country from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11. -- Contributed photo
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Another young but veteran international wushu campaigner, Divine Wally, will see action in the 30th Southeast Asian Games to be hosted by the Philippines from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.
Fresh from the 2019 World Wushu Championship held in Shanghai, China last month, Wally hopes to deliver a gold medal for the country in the 48-kilogram in wushu Sanda (contact).
Wally, a gold medalist in previous World Wushu Championship and Sanda World Cup, settled for bronze medal in the 2019 World Wushu Championship after losing to division winner Nguyen Thi Chinh of Vietnam in the semifinals.
Nguyen will remain a formidable opponent for Wally if Vietnam fields its bemedalled fighter in the 30th SEAG.
Wally, together with members of the Philippine Wushu-Sanda National Team, underwent a four-month training in China in preparation for international tournaments including the SEAG.
The Baguio City native, who traces her roots to Sadanga, Mountain Province, remains one of the most dependable female wushu-Sanda athletes in Southeast Asia.
Wally was bronze medalist in the 9th Sanda World Cup 2018 in China and also a bronze medalist in 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
She is the first female member of the Philippine Wushu Team to win in the World Wushu Championship in 2015 and 8th Sanda World Cup in 2016.
Wally also won gold in the 9th Asian Wushu Championship in September 2015.