ISA TOWN, Bahrain — Pi Durden Wangkay displayed determination and fortitude far beyond his years, turning heartbreak into triumph and adding to the Philippines’ gold medal haul in the 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG) here.
The 16-year-old Wangkay stormed to victory in the 200-meter dash at Bahrain National Stadium late Saturday to clinch the Philippines’ third gold medal of the meet just a day after a heartbreaking loss.
“At first, when I failed to win in the 100-meter run, I was sad,” said Wangkay, who wound up fifth in the century dash.
“I was thinking about it when I was going home. But I changed my mindset and treated it like just an ordinary local meet and that I deserve to win.”
Wangkay was among the leaders as the pack came off the turn. He surged ahead with 40 meters to go, and the small Filipino crowd erupted as he crossed the finish line in 21.76 seconds.
Chu Chao-Feng of Chinese Taipei bagged silver in 21.90 and Kim Sunwoo of South Korea clocked 21.93 for the bronze.
“It’s really a good feeling that I’m winning not just in the Palarong Pambansa, but also here,” the runner from De La Salle Zobel added after joining pesilat Kram Airam Carpio and MMA fighter Charlie Ratcliff as among the Filipino gold medalists in this prestgious continental meet.
