Gymnast Karl Yulo (Photo courtesy of PSC)
MANILA — Karl Yulo of Manila once again ruled the gymnastics competition of the Batang Pinoy National Finals during Day 2 of the said meet at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum on Tuesday.
The 11-year-old gymnast, the younger brother of World Championship bronze medalist Carlo, scored five golds in the boys Class 2 division, winning the mushroom, parallel bars, vault, floor exercise, and the individual all-around events.
He missed out on equaling his seven-gold haul in Baguio last year after settling for the silver in the high bar and the team (with Williard Pasana and John Timothy Manalon) events.
Still, Yulo said that he was satisfied with the multiple wins.
“I did a more advanced and difficult routine and I’m still satisfied with my performance,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cainta's Aubrey Tom is also on track to rack up five golds in the nationals after winning the 50-meter butterfly event at the Ramon Mitra Sports Complex.
Tom, who clocked in at 31.41 seconds, was way ahead of Ysabelle Jean Alcazar of Santa Rosa City and Chelsea Mamugay of Iligan City at the finish.
Tom on Monday won the 200m individual medley, 100m freestyle and 50m backstroke events.
Alcazar (33.38 seconds) took the silver over Mamugay (33.42) in a tight battle for second place.
Tom can complete the five-gold goal if she wins the 50m freestyle race on Wednesday.
“Hopefully, I can win one more,” Tom said.
Mark Dula also joined Tom and Yulo in the four-gold club after taking two more golds in the 50m freestyle and 200m backstroke events.
Dula, who hails from Parañaque City, already won in the 50m backstroke and 100 butterfly on Monday.
In chess, FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo and Jerlyn Mae San Diego swept the 13-15 events to give Dasmariñas City two golds.
Gio Ventura came just close to giving the city a third gold, but he lost a tiebreaker to Ghian Michael Aleria of Dipolog in the boys under-12 division.
The gold medal race in the said division boiled down to the final round, in which Aleria defeated Kyle Johann Ylanan of Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental to eventually walk away with the top prize. (PNA)
