ISA TOWN — Pi Durden Wangkay turned heartbreak into triumph, powering to the 200-meter title at the Asian Youth Games on Saturday night at Bahrain National Stadium.

The 16-year-old sprinter, who had finished fifth in the 100m, exploded in the final stretch to clock 21.76 seconds and deliver another gold medal for the Philippines.

Wangkay said he spent the night after his earlier loss reflecting and resetting his mindset.

“At first po, noong hindi po ako nanalo ng 100, sobrang nalungkot po ako,” he said. “Napag-isipan ko po buong gabi. Iniba ko po yung mindset ko dito. Ginawa ko po in-imagine ko yung sarili ko na local meet lang, na deserve ko to.”

Wangkay redeems himself with strong finish

Wangkay stayed close to the leaders off the curve before breaking away in the final 40 meters.

A small Filipino crowd cheered wildly as he crossed the line first. Chu Chao-Feng of Chinese Taipei took silver in 21.90 seconds, while South Korea’s Kim Sunwoo grabbed bronze in 21.93.

“Sobrang sarap po sa pakiramdam na hindi lang sa Palaro ako nanalo, dito rin ako nanalo,” said Wangkay, a product of De La Salle Zobel.

Cesar adds silver in the 800m

The Philippines continued its success with Naomi Cesar claiming silver in the girls’ 800m.

Cesar clocked 2:08.69 behind China’s Song Jinping, who won in 2:07.84. Indonesia’s Gesndis Aulia Syafitri settled for bronze in 2:24.98.

Wangkay joined fellow Filipino gold medalists Kram Airam Carpio of pencak silat and Charlie Ratcliff of mixed martial arts.

Their combined effort pushed the Philippines’ medal count higher as the delegation continued to shine in Bahrain.