POC chief hails PH’s best-ever performance in Youth Olympic Games

MANILA — The Philippines booked its best performance in the 4th Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, thanks to medals won by Naomi Marjorie Cesar and Pi Durden Forward Wangkay in athletics.

The chief of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) believes the country’s 14-day campaign in the Senegalese capital is proof of progress and a sign to invest more on grassroots development.

“It’s the best performance, these two medals,” POC President Abraham Tolentino said. “The level of competition in the YOG is high, the young athletes from the powerhouse countries are as high in their age group as their elite counterparts.”

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.

Luis Gabriel Moreno won gold in mixed archery with China’s Li Jiaman at Nanjing in 2014, but it did not count in the official tally.

Jade Justine Justiniane capped the Philippine campaign—supported by the Philippine Sports Commission chaired by Patrick Gregorio—with a sixth place finish in the abbreviated men’s windsurfing event of sailing on Thursday at Saly Beach West.

The YOG closed on Friday night at the Athletes Village in Diamniadio.

China topped the medals race with 17 gold, eight silver and seven bronze medals, followed by Japan (10-8-9 gold-silver-bronze) and the Russian Federation (8-4-2), the first time the country’s flag was recognized by the IOC in any of its games since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Singapore was the best-placed SEA Games country with 1-1-0 at No. 49, followed by Vietnam (0-2-0) at No. 64, Indonesia sharing No. 66 (0-1-2) and the Philippines (0-1-1) at No. 68 with other five countries, including Thailand.

Athletes as young as 14 but no older than 17 competed in the multi-sport extravaganza, which marked the first time that an African country hosted an Olympic competition. 

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

Even with this in mind, Tolentino believes a stronger grassroots program that is not only confined at home is key.

There is also the Southeast Asian Games Youth Plus, a brainchild of Tolentino whose inaugural edition will be hosted by the Philippines in December next year.

“The SEAG Youth Plus will provide that pathway to the YOG,” Tolentino said.

The SEAG Youth Plus will be a competition among athletes aged 16 and younger from the Southeast Asian, Asian and Oceania countries featuring 23 sports and will be played in Manila, Pasig, Tagaytay and Subic from December 2 to 14, 2027.

“From the SEAG Youth Plus, it will be on to the Asian Youth Games and then the YOG,” said Tolentino.