Youth Olympics gold ‘ripe for the taking’

MANILA, Philippines — Hungry for a first-ever gold medal in the Olympics, the Philippines will settle for a victory even in the Youth Olympic Games.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. believes that a Filipino athlete will soon strike gold in the YOG, a quadrennial competition for athletes 14 to 18 years old.

“I’m confident that we will have our first Olympic gold in the YOG,” Cojuangco said Sunday.

“We are on equal footing with the top athletes from other countries since these athletes haven’t reached their peak yet as far as scientific training and physical development are concerned.”

This year’s Summer Youth Olympics will be held in Nanjing, China, from Aug. 16 to 28 with 3,600 athletes from 204 countries set to compete in 28 sports.

“I agree they [other countries] have the edge, but we’re not far behind in terms of performance,” Cojuangco said.

Philippine chef de mission Jonne Go said only four Filipino athletes have qualified so far for Nanjing—archers Luis Gabriel Moreno and Bianca Roxas-Gotuaco along with golfers Princess Superal and Mia Legaspi.

Go, president of the Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation, said they are aiming to bring at least 20 athletes to the Games.

The national contingent hopes to field six more from taekwondo, four from boxing and 3-on-3 basketball, two each from athletics, swimming and gymnastics and one each from triathlon, fencing, judo and BMX cycling.