CHONBURI, Thailand — Dhenver John Castillo joined the list of Filipino teens with gold medals in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games after ruling his event in windsurfing, where all five Filipino bets medaled.
The 17-year-old delivered the Philippines’ lone gold in windsurfing after winning the men’s U19 iQFoil class at the Jomtien Beach in Pattaya City late Wednesday.
Castillo led from start to finish throughout the five-day competition that consisted of 16 races as he earned a total of 30 and a net score of 19 to beat local bet Passapong Lianglam, who settled for silver with a net of 24.
Singapore’s John Tze Xiang Wong bagged bronze with a net of 26.
All of the Philippines’ four windsurfing athletes medaled as Renz Angelo Amboy (men’s Techno 293 Plus open) clinched silver, while John Harold Madrigal (men’s iQFoil open) and Arrianne Angela Paz (women’s iQFoil open) added a pair of bronzes.
The windsurfing competition in this SEA Games followed a low-point system, with the first placer getting one point, the second placer getting two points, and so on for every race.
Participants’ points were totaled after the 16 races and their three worst marks were deducted for the net score.
Other teenagers who won gold for the Philippines like Castillo include 16-year-old runner Naomi Cesar, 11-year-old skateboarder Mazel Paris Alegado, 17-year-old gymnast Jasmine Althea Ramilo, 17-year-old practical shooter Erin Mattea Micor, 18-year-old taekwondo jin Tachiana Mangin, and 19-year-old triathlete Kira Ellis.