Phl ends YOG campaign

DAKAR, Senegal — Behind the silver medals won by Naomi Marjorie Cesar and Pi Durden Forward Wangkay in athletics, the Philippines booked its best performance in the fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) that came to a close on Friday night at the YOG Athletes Village in Diamniadio.

For the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the 14-day campaign in the Senegalese capital was an accomplishment, a proof of progress and a beacon to invest more on grassroots.

Cesar’s silver and Wangkay’s bronze surpassed the silver won by Christian Tio in boys’ twin-tip racing of kiteboarding at the 2018 Buenos Aires Games — the gold Luis Gabriel Moreno shared with China’s Li Jiaman in mixed NOC in archery at Nanjing 2014 didn’t officially count.

The Philippines qualified nine athletes in Dakar — the first time an African country hosted an Olympic competition — in six sports where they faced opponents who’re also as young as 14 and no older than 17, but equipped with more superior skills culled from elite training programs particularly those from the Americas and Europe and the top countries in Asia.

“Obviously, size mattered in these YOG,” said POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said. “Our athletes’ opponents were bigger, stronger and faster.”