Why Agatha Wong didn't expect to win the gold medal in wushu

PHNOM PENH — Agatha Wong was the most surprised when she won the gold medal in the women’s taijiquan + taijijian in wushu in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

This despite already bagging seven medals in the SEA Games prior to her supremacy in the 2023 edition of the biennial meet.

According to the 24-year-old wushu ace, she’s currently in her first year of medical school at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center—an endeavor that made it extra challenging for her to continue her training for the Games.

“Hindi ko inexpect na mananalo ako kasi I'm also a med student,” Wong said.

“I'm in my first year of medicine and I didn't graduate from science degree so medyo mahirap siya for me to balance with training.”

("I didn't expect that I would win because I'm also a med student. I'm in my first year of medicine and I didn't graduate from science degree so it's a little hard for to balance with training.")

Wong said she didn’t expect to win the gold, given her busy schedule of balancing med school and wushu training.

She’s currently in her 1st year at the UERM @gmasportsph #SEAGames2023 pic.twitter.com/fXp8iLOyhZ

— Bea Micaller (@beamicallerrr) May 12, 2023

But Wong stressed if there’s a will, there’s a way.

“‘Pag gusto mo may paraan. Mahirap siya pero kakayanin kasi I really like this sport.”

("If you want it, there's a way. It's hard but I can make it work because I really like this sport.")

Wong graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs but she decided to pursue the medical field as it’s in line with the sport she’s playing. She added that her mother came from a family of doctors while her father is from a family of lawyers, though she never felt pressure to take up either.

“‘Yung family ko kasi parang hati sila e, 'yung mommy ko kasi galing sa family of doctors tapos 'yung daddy ko meron siyang mga relatives na lawyers,” she continued.

“So they didn't really pressure to pursue any of the two professions pero ako, hindi kasi pang-law 'yung personality ko so naisip ko, since nags-sports naman ako, why don't I connect it so pumunta ako ng med.”

("My family is split. My mommy comes from a family of doctors and my daddy, he has relatives who are lawyers... So they didn't really pressure to pursue any of the two profession. But for me, my personality isn't for law so I thought since I'm in sports, why don't I connect it and go towards med.")

Now that she’s focused on achieving her medical degree, Wong remains unsure whether she’ll return to play for the country.

“I'm middle-aged, like 24. I don't know. Hangga't kaya ko pa.”

("I'm middle-aged, like 24. I don't know. I'll do it if I'm still able.")

—JMB, GMA Integrated News