Clark, Philippines, December 3, 2019: Myanmar won their first gold medal of the 30th SEA Games 2019 thanks to the inclusion of the ancient weapons-based Filipino martial art of arnis. Even though the Philippines won 14 of the 20 gold medals in the arnis competition at the Angeles University Foundation, the host country could not deny Myanmar’s Eian Dray Phoo her moment of SEA Games glory. After taking gold in the women’s anyo (form) traditional open weapon event, the 20-year-old Phoo commented: “I am so happy and proud to win this gold medal for my family, my country and my federation. It is even more special because it is the first gold medal for Myanmar at these SEA Games. “I like all martial arts and have been training since 2016, especially in vovinam, arnis and our own Myanmar martial art.” Phoo is in her final year at Mandalay University and plans to carry on competing at international championships for a few more years yet after her SEA Games success. Elsewhere on Tuesday, the final day of the three-day arnis competition, Phillippine arnis surpassed its pre-Games target of 12 gold medals by winning 14. The host country added two more gold medals on the last day thanks to Crisamuel Delfin and Mary Allin Aldeguer as they swept the anyo open weapon non-traditional events. Delfin edged out Vietnam's Van Huynh Ngo for gold as Cambodia's Sila Chhem and Myanmar's Yar Zar Tun settled for bronze. In the women's side, Aldeguer, who admitted that it was a tough challenge for her to win the gold, beat Vietnam's Thi Hoai Trieu for top spot while Myanmar's Naing L Sheilar Min and Cambodia's Soumala Eng copped a twin bronze finish.
Golden glory for Myanmar’s Phoo fighter
