Cebuano wakeboarder Raphael Trinidad has secured a spot in the 2025 World Games, set to take place in August in Chengdu, China.
The 24-year-old standout from Liloan, Cebu, achieved this feat by clinching the gold medal in the World Games Qualifying 2025 IWWF Asia and Oceania Cable Wakeboard and Wakeskate Championships held over the weekend at Deca Wake Park Clark in Angeles, Pampanga.
Trinidad dominated the wakeboard open men’s category with an outstanding score of 81.67 points, outclassing his closest rivals—Kyrgyzstan’s Stanislav Fidelsky, who scored 77.67 points, and Thailand’s Luke Atirat Carrick, who earned 73.67 points for the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
A seasoned athlete, Trinidad is a two-time silver medalist in the IWWF World Championships and a seven-time national champion. His qualification for the World Games adds to the growing roster of Filipino athletes who will represent the country on the global stage.
Joining Trinidad in the Philippine contingent for the World Games are the Philippine Dragon Boat Team, Paris Olympian and kickboxer Hergie Bacyadan, billiards champions Rubilen Amit, Chezka Centeno, and Jeff De Luna, as well as wushu specialists Agatha Wong, Carlos Baylon Jr. and Thornton Sayan.
Powerlifter Regie Ramirez also qualified, while two more national sports associations in karate and duathlon are still working to secure slots.
The Philippines also performed as the host nation in the wakeboard events, collecting four golds, five silvers, and four bronze medals. Kherlie Santiago captured the gold in the U14 ladies’ wakeboard event, defeating compatriots Ayesha Musni and Joan Romana.
Andrea Tanjangco, Jianna Lyn Dela Torre, and Arlita Domingo swept the podium in the 040 ladies’ category, while Carlo Dela Torre and Mark Griffin earned gold and silver, respectively, in the 040 men’s division.
Ann Joy Aler and Susana Shayne Sacramento achieved a 1-2 finish in the 030 ladies’ wakeboard event.
Franchesca Coo added a silver in the U18 ladies’ category, with Marvin Tucio and James Damanche securing bronze in the 030 men’s and U14 men’s divisions, respectively.
In the wakeskate competition, Filipino athletes brought home three silver and four bronze medals. Kherlie Santiago won silver in the U18 ladies’ final, while Ayesha Musni claimed bronze in the same event. William Lang earned a bronze in the U18 men’s category. In the men’s open competition, Obi Cembrano and John Philip Canuto took silver and bronze, respectively, while Ila Dawn Diato and Fatima Kamila De Leon mirrored their performance with silver and bronze in the open ladies’ division.
With Raphael Trinidad’s qualification and the strong overall showing of Filipino athletes in these events, the Philippines continues to build momentum and promise for a successfu
