ARTISTIC CHAMPS. Kazakhstan's Dayana Jamanchalova (front row, extreme right) and her teammates sing their national anthem during the awarding ceremony of the 11th Asian Age Group Championships at the New Clark City Aquatic Center in Capas, Tarlac on March 6, 2024. She collected four gold medals to lead her team won the overall artistic swimming competition. (AAGC photo)
CAPAS, Tarlac – Kazakhstan scooped five more gold medals Wednesday night to rule the artistic swimming competition in the 11th Asian Age Group Championships at the New Clark City Aquatic Center here.
Artyom Tomchishin and Zhansaya Shaukenova scored 124.7625 points to beat teammates Zhansaya Abdykadyr and Svyatoslav (99.3708) for the gold medal in the mixed duet 12 and under event.
Kazakhstan also ruled the mixed team 12 and under, 13-15, junior 15-19 and mixed acrobatic junior 15-19 to finish with 16 medals, including six silvers and one bronze, in the tournament organized by Philippine Aquatics, Inc. and supported by MVP Sports Foundation, Pinay In Action, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Sports Commission.
China placed second with three golds, four silvers, and one bronze followed by Uzbekistan (2-2-6), Thailand (1-3-2), Japan (1-0-0), Singapore (0-1-2), and Malaysia (0-0-1).
Dayana Jamanchalova, a 15-year-old from Karaganda City, bagged four golds -- solo, duet (with Sofiya Ichshenko), mixed duet and free combination in the 13-15 category – an achievement she never expected.
"This is my first time in the Asian Age Group Championships. I am very happy for winning four gold medals, I did not expect this," said the Grade 10 student who had competed at the World League in Dubai, the UAE last year.
The 5-foot-6 Jamanchalova said the team trains six hours – two in the morning and four in the afternoon -- from Monday to Saturday.
In water polo, Iran downed Singapore 19-8 for its fourth win in the men's division.
Japan rolled to its fourth win at the expense of Singapore, 26-6, in the women's division. Other matches saw China prevailing over Kazakhstan, 14-9, and Uzbekistan pulling off a 31-6 win over Sri Lanka. (PNA)
