MANILA – Sixteen-year-old Charlie Ratcliff of Calatrava, Negros Occidental, turned heads in Bahrain after securing the Philippines’ second gold medal in the 2025 Asian Youth Games — finishing her match in under a minute.
Ratcliff made quick work of Thailand’s Nakanantaphon Khaihong in the girls’ 45kg division of modern mixed martial arts, forcing a tap-out via neck crank just 1:03 into the opening round at the Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir. The referee stopped the contest with 1:57 remaining, marking one of the fastest wins by a Filipino athlete in the Games.
“This gold medal was expected,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who is overseeing the national delegation. “There was no doubt—we would surpass the previous haul. And we still have a lot of potential winners. Meron pa tayong volleyball. Volleyball tahimik lang yan pero andyan lang yan. We still have boxing, weightlifting—marami pang pagkukunan, pati jiu jitsu.”
The Negrense’s victory followed the country’s first gold courtesy of pesilat Kram Airam Carpio of Santa Cruz, Laguna. Ratcliff’s older brother, Travis, also reached the podium, bagging silver in the boys’ traditional MMA 60kg event after a valiant effort against Iran’s Hatamianafshari Amirmohammad, who won by unanimous decision.
Philippine delegation Chef de Mission Ramon “Tats” Suzara lauded the team’s rising morale, saying, “I always tell our players—in volleyball and in other sports—to just have fun. Don’t let the pressure get to you. Especially for our young athletes: when you play, play like you’ve got nothing to lose. Just enjoy the game. Ganun lang lagi.”
Adding to the momentum, Biñan City sprinter Pi Durden Wangkay clocked 21.76 seconds to capture the boys’ 200-meter gold, while Naomie Cesar clinched silver in the girls’ 800m with a new personal best of 2:08.69.
Meanwhile, Team Philippines’ medal hopes remain alive in muay, with Jan Brix Ramiscal and Zeth Gabriel Bueno advancing to the Wai Kru finals, assuring bronze medals. Iyesha Blair Bituin also secured at least bronze in the girls’ -51kg combat event, while Lyrie Anie Ngina and Jasmine Dagame clinched virtual bronzes in Wai Kru./PN
