By MARK REY MONTEJO
Filipino warrior Xander Alipio delivered a splendid performance against Hong Kong’s Yu Hong Leung, 2-1, to win the gold medal in the 2024 International Wushu Invitational Tournament in Jiangsu, China on Thursday, April 25.
The 21-year-old Alipio sustained his deadly form and ruled the 60kg men’s sanda event in the three-day meet that attracted top athletes throughout Asia.
In advancing to the finals, Alipio beat Bangladesh’s Milon Ali in the semifinals in a fitting sequel to a technical knockout triumph over Kazakhstan’s Toktar Yermekbayev in the quarterfinals.
Not fortunate was Carlos Baylon Jr. who succumbed to China’s Sishuo Tang (0-2) in the semis of their men’s 56kg clash.
Baylon bounced back from that defeat by beat ingTang’s compatriot Dogkan Sermikli to secure the bronze medal.
He also won via TKO when he battled India’s Abshisek Jamwal.
