Tondo tandem dances away with first 2 golds

A nine-year-old pair from Barrio Obrero, Tondo, Manila won yesterday the first two gold medals of the second Manila Youth Games after ruling the Juvenile Standard and Juvenile Latin Category of the dancesports event held at the San Andres Gym in San Andres Manila.

Kevin James Marinda and Camille Angue, both incoming Grade III pupil at Bo. Obrero Elementary School bested Adrian Lester Grisola and Grisley Angue in both events to win the first two gold medals at stake in the dancesports competition.

In the Youth Standard and Latin category, the pair of William Bernardino and first Batang Pinoy gold medallist Cynthia Tajon duplicated the peat of Miranda and Angue after stamping their class in both categories.

Both 12, Bernardino who hailed from Paco and Tajon who resides in Sampaloc represented District 4 in the meet for children 15-years and below.

Last year, participants was limited to children aged 12 years and under before Manila Sports Council (MASCO) chairman Arnold "Ali" Atienza who was also the chairman of the organizing committee decided to include children age 15 below.

In badminton, despite moving up to higher age group level, last year’s top three finishers in the girl’s division remained as favorites in the singles event.

Silver medallist in the last Batang Pinoy, 12-year old Janina Marie Paredes who represented Paredes Team eliminated Arrianne Mendiola of Legarda Elementary School 11-0, 11-0 to advance in the round of 32 of the girl’s 15-and-under singles event.