Philippines tallies 24 medals in third Asian Youth Games

Team Philippines capped off its third Asian Youth Games campaign with a historic 24-medal finish, collecting seven golds, seven silvers, and 10 bronzes across various sports, to place 12th overall in the final medal tally, Oct 31.

Leading the golden charge were Kram Airam Carpio in pencak silat (girls’ 51-55kg), Charlie Ratcliff in mixed martial arts (girls’ 45kg modern), and Pi Durden Wangkay in athletics (boys’ 200m). 

The Philippines also dominated in Muay Thai, with Lyre Anie Ngina and Zeth Gabriel Bueno taking top honors in Wai Kru events, and the tandem of Jan Brix Ramiscal and Tyron Jamborillo winning gold in the mixed team Mai Muay category.

In jiu-jitsu, Isabella Joseline Butler claimed the country’s seventh gold after ruling the girls’ -63kg division.

Meanwhile, the Philippines earned seven silver medals, highlighted by Naomi Marjorie Cesar’s strong finish in the girls’ 800m run and Jamesray Ajido’s podium performance in the boys’ 100m butterfly. 

Other silver medalists included Travis Ratcliff (MMA boys’ 60kg traditional), Kristen Ambriel Aguila (taekwondo girls’ recognized poomsae), Jasmine Dagame and Jan Brix Ramiscal (Muay Thai), and Jhodie Peralta (weightlifting girls’ 53kg snatch).

Ten Filipino athletes also bagged bronze medals, with notable performances from Crystal Cariño and Nicole Tabucol in teqball doubles, Leo Mhar Lobrido in boxing (boys’ 46kg), and Princess Jay Ann Diaz, Alexsandra Ann Diaz, and Jay-R Colonia in weightlifting.

The latest tally surpassed the country’s previous best showing of two golds in 2013, as well as the one silver and one bronze earned during its 2009 campaign.

China dominated the overall medal standings with 63 gold, 49 silver, and 35 bronze medals for a total of 147, while Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan finished second and third, respectively.

After being on hiatus for more than a decade, the Asian Youth Games is set to return on a biennial schedule, with Uzbekistan confirmed as host nation for the 2029 edition.