MANILA – The Philippine campaign shifts to gymnastics on Saturday and goes full swing on Sunday at the 4th Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.
Hillarion Palles III will compete in the men’s qualification for the individual all-around at the Dakar Exhibition Center in Diamniadio while Tchelzy Maayo takes her turn in the women’s qualification the next day.
So far, only three countries from Southeast Asia are in the medal tally board with Singapore winning gold in wushu women’s Taijiquan combined, Indonesia bagging silver in wushu men’s Changquan and judo women’s -63kg, and Vietnam taking the bronze in men’s Taijiquan combined.
“Just like in the Summer Olympics [regular], competition here is tough and our three neighbors have medaled in a sport that’s not in the Olympic program, except for judo,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said in a news release Thursday.
“But we have four more shots at a medal.”
Swimmer Jamesray Mishael Ajido placed fifth in the 50m butterfly final last Wednesday.
“I didn’t execute the swim that I wanted to,” said Ajido, a bronze medalist in the Bahrain 2025 Asian Youth Games, a gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Age Group Championships, and a multiple-time champion in the Palarong Pambansa.
“I thank everyone for the support for my campaign and I will not only cherish this YOG experience but learn a lot from it.”
Swimmer Riannah Chantelle Coleman competed in her last event, the 50m breaststroke, Thursday morning at the Dakar Olympic Pool.
Cyclist Maritanya Krog, windsurfer Jade Justine Justiniane, and trackster Pi Durden Wangkay, were expected to arrive early Thursday evening with their coaches after a 30-hour flight from Manila via Istanbul.
Krog competes in the individual time trial in Corniche, Naomi Marjorie Caesar in the women’s 800m semifinals at the Iba Mar Diop Stadium, and Justiniane sees action at Saly Beach West, all on Saturday.
Wangkay will compete in the men’s 200m semifinals on Tuesday.
Japan leads the gold medal race with five in swimming and one in table tennis, on top of one silver and three bronzes.
China follows with a 4-3-1 tally –featuring two golds in rowing and one each in swimming and wushu– while the Russian Federation sits at 3-2-0 with all its golds coming from swimming. This marks the first time since 2022 that Russia’s flag is being raised at an International Olympic Committee event. (PNA)
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GOOD FOR FIFTH. Swimming Jamesray Mishael Ajido ends his campaign at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games on Wednesday (Nov. 4, 2026). He placed fifth in the 50m butterfly final. (POC Media Pool
