Two gymnasts banner Team Philippines in Dakar YOG

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will officially send nine athletes to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) this October after the gymnastics association nominated two of its artistic athletes to the global competitions for athletes aged 15 to 18.

“They’re the rising stars of Philippine sports,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

“We are hoping for a podium finish and of course, we are praying for the gold,” Tolentino said. “This is a fighting team and I believe they will do their best.”

Gymnasts Hilarrion Palles III (men) and Tchelzy Mei Maayo (women) will join athletics bets Pi Durden Wangkay (men’s 200m) and Naomi Marjorie Caesar (women’s 800m), swimmers Riannah Chantelle Coleman (women’s 100m breaststroke) and Jamesray Mishael Ajido (men’s 100m Butterfly), cyclist Maritanya Krog (women’s road and individual time trial), wushu artist Angel Polo (women’s Taijiquan combined) and sailing bet Jade Justiniane (men’s windsurfing).

The Philippines has one silver medal to show – courtesy of Filipino-Norwegian Christian Tio in boy’s twin tip racing of kiteboarding in Buenos Aires – so far in the YOG that was first staged in Singapore in 2010 followed by Nanjing in 2014 and Buenos Aires in 2018.