Folayang focuses on Martial Combat

DESPITE the strong and repeated pleas to the National Government, Baguio based wushu artists who are shoo-ins in the upcoming Guangzhou Asian Games this coming November have yet to have a Chinese coach to hone their skills.

Eduard Folayang, one of the country's medal bets in the combative competition told Sun.Star Baguio that despite recent pleas to the government, the country has yet to appoint a national coach for the wushu team.

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"So far, sa ngayon, si Mark Sangiao pa rin ang nag-a-assist sa aming mga training,' said the Doha Games silver medalists.

Folayang, together with Mark Eddiva, Mary Jane Estimar, Benjie Rivera, and Marianne Mariano will be among the 200-220 athletes for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China this November.

Athletics, swimming, diving, dance sport, tennis, boxing, and wushu are among the medal prospects in Guangzhou.

The 42 major events include 28 Olympic events and 12 non-Olympic classified events. The games will be held at 50 competition venues, 20 training venues, and 10 backup venues.

The quadrennial meet is slated from Nov. 12 to 27 where the Philippines will participate in 35 out of 42 events.

In the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, the Philippines won four gold medals, two in boxing and one each in billiards and wushu. The athletes also bagged four silver and bronze medals each.

Meanwhile, Folayang said despite the absence of a national coach, their training continues in full swing as he is once again bound for Singapore this coming October for another stint in the Martial Combat competitions.

Folayang will still be the man to watch in the Asian mix martial arts scene after winning his first belt in the Martial Combat against an equally talented Mongolian Bau She Ri Gu Leng last July at the Sentosa resorts.