By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cristina Vergara and daughter Cathlyn turned the 32nd Southeast Asian Games into a family affair after winning medals from their respective wrestling events here.
Cathlyn, 18, settled for the bronze medal in the women’s 59kg freestyle before 44-year-old Cristina banked heavily on her experience in topping the women’s 65kg.
“Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang emosyon ko,” said Cristina, who last won the gold medal in the 2005 edition held in Manila.
She also won in the 2003 Vietnam and finished with a bronze in the 2007 Thailand edition.
Cristina actually wasn’t supposed to compete as she was already focused on coaching. But she has to fill in the spot of Levie Espuerta, who got injured.
Cathlyn, meanwhile, was just happy to share her achievement with her mother despite missing the gold.
“Medyo pressured po akong magka-medal kasi idol ko si Mama. Pero masaya na rin po ako dito,” said Cathlyn, a college freshman.
