Dabawenya multi-athlete Sydney Sy Tancontian will cherish the bronze medal she won in the women’s +70kg division in Kurash at the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Although she did not bag the gold in her ‘second’ event, the 19-year old Asian Sambo champion considers the bronze medal her most memorable. Tancontian also competes in her favorite event Sambo.
“It was fulfilling po lalo na po nakumpleto po kaming 4 habang naglalaro po kasi ang huling nakumpleto po kami sa tournament eh nung medyo mga bata pa po kami,” the 2017 Sea Games judo bronze medalist said, pertaining to her mama, papa and little brother Chino, who will also compete in the biennial meet.
“Iba pa rin po talaga na andun sila, na nagchecheer sa akin, yung buong Pilipinas Sambo Team andun din po,” she added.
To be part of Philippines’ historic milestone and to spend quality time with her family was already like winning a gold medal. Earning another in the actual competition, said Tancontian, is already a bonus.
Her back-to-back bronze medal haul in the biennial event came after stopping Amanda Mutiara of Indonesia.
Tancontian’s chance for a gold medal was taken away early by Vietnam’s best bet in the weight division who eventually rule the competition on Monday afternoon at Laus Group Events Centre in San Fernando, Pampanga.
After showing toughness against Mutiara, Tancontian was stung by the shorter but heavier Tubkit Tappamaporn of Thailand, who took the silver.
Tancontian was forced to adjust from grappling to full standing after she was sent out from Pilipinas Sambo to reinforce the Philippine Kurash team led by legendary John Baylon.
“Hindi naman po ako nahirapan mag adjust kasi yung training halos magkakapareho lang naman po, focus lang talaga sila sa standing,” the veteran grappler said.
With her vast experience in the Asian level, Tancontian was poised to win the gold medal in the Sambo Competition which will kick off on Thursday, December 5 at Angeles University Foundation in Clark.
Before the SEA Games, Tancontian went to various countries including Russia, where Sambo originated, Japan, Monggolia, China, Singapore and Indonesia among others, in preparation for this biennial meet.
