MANILA – Hurdler Mico Villaran of Bacolod City captured a gold medal in the athletics event of the 2023 Batang Pinoy on Tuesday afternoon at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.
Villaran, a standout of Romanito Maravilla National High School, took home his first gold medal in the week-long competition after finishing on top in the men’s 110-meter hurdles event.
In taekwondo, Bacolod City jins Ace Sha Oro and Joshua Emmanel Deita captured a gold medal apiece in the light heavyweight and light middleweight divisions, respectively.
Justin James Diasnes and Shein Nicole De Asis, representing Iloilo City in the tournament, also bagged a gold medal each in the men’s lightweight and kyorugi fifth category, respectively.
Caloocan City’s Brianna Elyse Cajucom clinched gold in the Individual Kata Female 10-11 years old category, while Davao City secured gold in the Individual Kata Male 12-13 years old class, courtesy of Robert Bryan Dayanan.
Pasig City’s Arvin Naeem Taguinota II, meanwhile, shone brightest in the Batang Pinoy swimming competition as he clinched three gold medals over at the Rizal Memorial Swimming Pool.
After securing a gold in the Boys’ 8-12 years old 200M Individual Medley on Monday, Taguinota continued to shine by dominating the Boys 12 & Under 50m backstroke and Boys 12 & Under 100m Backstroke events.
Taguinota had an impressive time of 31.15 seconds to dominate his opponents in the 50-meter backstroke event, while he ended up with a time of one minute and 05.63 seconds in the 100-meter backstroke.
Jamesray Mishael Ajido of Mandaluyong City also clinched two gold medals as he triumphed in the Boys’ 13-15 200m IM (2:15.30m) and the Boys’ 13-15 50m Butterfly (25.94s), Parañaque City’s Michaela Jasmine Mojdeh, for her part, excelled in the Girls’ 16-17 200m IM (2:28.18m) and Girls’ 16-17 50m Butterfly (29.27s) to also clinched two gold medals./PN
