In wushu, you learn different things everyday. The learning process never stops.

AGATHA Wong will fight for wushu, her one true love.

There are a handful of sports that a comely young lady like Agatha Wong can pursue.

But instead of playing volleyball, swimming or football, Wong fell in love with wushu — a Chinese martial art that is relatively unheard of in this basketball-crazy country.

Wong’s love affair with the sport is one for the books.

Growing up, she tried everything to competitive swimming, ice-skating, karate and even ballet.

When she was eight years old, she discovered wushu.

“I don’t know what I saw in it, but there’s something that really captured my interest and it kept me going,” said Wong, the 21-year-old wushu artist who will defend her title in taijiquan event of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games that the country will host from 30 November to 11 December.

“It’s a fun sport and I’m really enjoying it. But before I got to enjoy it, I had a hard time pursuing it.”

Yes, before mastering the horse stance, the bow stance and sharp kicks, Wong competed like a small fish in a vast ocean of uncertainties. She nearly called it quit until finally deciding to take the sport seriously when she was 13 years old.

“In wushu, you learn different things everyday. The learning process never stops.”

The last time the country hosted the biennial meet in 2005, the Philippine Wushu Federation emerged as the most successful national sports association.

It harvested a total of 12 gold medals with Willy Wang, Eduard Foloyang and Rene Catalan leading the way.

Wang eventually won a gold medal in the Beijing Olympic, where wushu was played as a demonstration sport, while Foloyang and Catalan are now enjoying successful careers in mixed martial arts.

In the previous SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Wong delivered the country’s solitary gold medal in wushu, giving her tremendous pressure as she marches to this year’s 11-nation conclave.

“At least a bronze medal,” Wong said, brushing off talks of winning another mint in a subjective sport where the home team has a massive advantage.

“But really, I am preparing hard for the SEA Games. We have a Chinese instructor, but our head coach is still a Filipino. As we know, Chinese wushu masters are the best in the field. They really set the standard.”

Wong said she’s preparing not just her body.

“I am working hard not just to put my body in great condition and polish my form and improve my agility and endurance,” she said.

“I am also preparing my mind and emotions.”

“I am gearing up for this because I want to be at my best so I can give everything to the country.”

Wong said whatever the results of the SEA Games would be, she would never turn her back on wushu — the sport she loves so dearly.

She said despite earning a degree in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs at the College of Saint Benilde last year, she would still find a job that would not hinder her love affair with wushu.

“When I graduated last year, I really wanted to work and sustain wushu at the same time,” she said, adding that had internship with the Greek embassy in Manila.

“Actually, when I had my internship, I realized that it’s really hard to work while playing wushu at a high level. There’s really going to be a conflict somewhere, especially if you want to keep up in a sport as demanding as wushu.”

“Wushu is really demanding most of my time. Even though it’s not a well-known sport here, I have to spend a lot of time perfecting my craft because I know that our countrymen want to see our flag being raised during awarding ceremonies.”

Wong said her love affair with wushu had so many twist and turns. With wushu, she experienced the joy of victories and the agony of defeat.

Now, with the country hosting the SEA Games, all she’s asking for is one thing from the love of her life: A perfect and happy ending.