Manila: The Philippines celebrated a remarkable achievement at the 10th Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships held at the Tagaytay CT Velodrome, as the nation clinched both gold and bronze medals in the youth mixed pair event.
According to Philippines News Agency, the dynamic duo of Rhimel Daniel Cabides and Antonette Amante emerged victorious with a score of 17.80 points, securing the gold medal. Meanwhile, General Santos' representatives Rhys Enoch Balmayor and John Mikaela Ladaran showcased their skills to earn the bronze with a score of 17.150 points. Both pairs marked their international debuts in this prestigious competition, organized by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) and sanctioned by the Asian Gymnastics Union.
The 14-year-old Amante, who previously achieved triple gold at the Palarong Pambansa in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, expressed her joy, saying, "We have proven that we can compete internationally. It's nice to hear the national anthem of the Philippines." Amante and Cabides, both Grade 8 classmates at Teodoro Alonzo High School, were elated with their unexpected triumph.
Eleven-year-old Ladaran shared his disbelief at the outcome, stating, "This is all too surreal. We really did not expect it. It was only a dream." Their coach, Carlo Joshua Tangonan, a former national team athlete, voiced his pride in the young athletes' journey and arduous training. "I am very proud of both pairs. The journey of the children was also difficult and their training, so I am very happy with the result," he remarked. Tangonan, who previously won a bronze medal in the mixed pair event at the 32nd Cambodia Southeast Asian Games, also expressed gratitude to the GAP for providing the junior athletes with this platform.
Cabides and Amante's victory was determined by their performance in difficulty, execution, and artistry, which culminated in the top score. The Vietnamese duo, Ann Thinh Tran and Ngoc Gia Ngueyen, matched their overall score of 17.80 but were awarded silver due to a slightly lower execution score of 7.450 compared to the Philippine pair's 7.50.
