Naina Dominique Tagle of Dumaguete bested Dencil Shane Dinopol of Cebu City, 7-1, in the Olympic round finals Thursday to emerge with seven gold medals and the most bemedaled athlete thus far in the Visayas Leg of the 2019 Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy at the West Visayas State University field here.
Playing as a 10-year-old in the event for 13-15 years old, the eagle-eyed Tagle outshone everyone as she capped an exceptional feat that saw him sweeping all seven golds staked in archery including the 20m, 30m, 40m, 50m, single fita and mixed team alongside Matt Charid Bajado.
“It was nerve-wracking because I don’t know how good the opponents are and I’m younger than them,” said Tagle, a Grade Five Silliman University student.
Prisa Helen Lofranco smashed close buddy and teammate Kristanna Carmela Quisumbing, 6-0, in the girls’ cadet finale to wind up with six golds.
It also helped Dumaguete rule the sport closest to its heart being the archery capital of the Philippines as it went home with 13 golds in all.
Cebu City’s Aldrener Igot dumped Bajado, 6-0, in boys’ cub event while Godwell Maloloy-on of Mandaeu downed Shann Michael Sumagaysay, 6-2, in the boys’ cadet to each finish with six golds.
Over at the pool, Alexi Kouzenye Cabayaran of Negros Occidental splashed her way to a couple of golden efforts to end up with the most golds in swimming with six.
Cabayaran, 12, ruled the girls’ 200m freestyle in two minutes and 17.65 seconds, rested for half an hour before plunging back into action and reigned supreme in the 50m free where she clocked 28.92 to end up with six mints.
The sixth-grader from Mambukal Elementary School in Silai also won in the 50m and 100m backstroke, 100m free and the 200m medley relay with Mareanne Apdo, Ela Reign Buelos and Rianna Montelibano.
“It’s my first time in the Batang Pinoy and I’m really happy I won six golds,” said Cabayaran, who qualified in five events in the Palarong Pambansa in April in Davao City.
Guiliver Clyde Clemente of Antique dominated the boys 100m breaststroke for 13-15 years old in 1:13.24 while Coby Marcus Rivilla of Ormoc City reigned supreme in the boys’ 100m breast for 12-under in 1:28.58 to end up with five mints apiece.
In karatedo, Cebu Province took two golds courtesy of Precious Avegail Belicario, who bested Shifra Medina of Bacolod City, and Christene Jhane Tautho, who edged teammate Cindy Sanchez.
Also copping golds were Pauline Kalaw of Bacolod, Jisha Zyra Azur of Cebu City, Cassandra Nikkolai Bolcan of Lapu Lapu City, Jowin May Nudalo of Cebu City and Joy Tubongbanua of Bacolod.
