PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – Jamie Danielle Nirza struck gold in women’s karate while swimmers Philip Sahagun and Quendy Fernandez added another mint in their growing war chest in the 11th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games here on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

Representing country’s Team A, the 18-year-old Nirza showcased her impressive skills to earn 36.5 total points from the judges, edging Malaysia A’s Anisa Aira Nur (36.2) for the advance women’s individual kata gold.

Nur took the silver while Malaysia B’s Ameera Liew and Brunei’s Nasir Abdul got the bronze.

“I’m happy to achieve such a feat, and I worked hard for this one. I’m glad na I was able to perform the way I wanted, and I’m happy for my teammates we’re able to perform [well],” said the first-year nursing student from Jose Maria College Foundation, Inc.

“I practiced napo, when I perform, I go there with my very best, and I just feel honored and blessed to bring something that our country can be proud of,” she added.

Aside from the gold, Nirza and her teammates Yesha Lee Ho and Al Rhina Kawano grabbed the women’s team kata silver after tallying 34.6 points.

In the men’s individual, Arvin Santillana settled for silver with 36 points.

Meanwhile, Sahagun conquered the boys’ 200 meter backstroke (2:14.38) while joining the PH Team A in winning the 4x100m medley relay to raise his total gold medals to five.

“Goal ko talaga na mapasama sa national team and represent our country sa international competitions,” said Sahagun.

Fernandez, for her part, added two more medals that included a gold in the girls 200m back and a silver in the 4x100m medley relay to finish her campaign with five gold and two silver medals.

Earlier in Archery, PH Team E’s Nathaniel Carlos topped the men’s individual recurve after beating his Malaysian rivals with six points while PH Team B’s Yvonne Forcado snaed the crown in the women’s class.

In athletics, Milchay Moreno led PH Team A in winning the 4x400m women’s relay in 4:09.51 against Malaysia (4:19.73) and PH team D (4:34.16).

In badminton, PH Team A snagged the women’s singles gold courtesy of Klea Montanez while Malcolm Mag-Aso, Andre Alexis Macalalag took home the mixed doubles diadem.

PH Team B’s Regina Bayudang and Khrystn Valdez topped the women’s doubles.

As of 8 p.m. of Tuesday, Dec. 3, PH A topped the medal tally with 12 gold, 17 silver and 18 bronze medals, followed by Malaysia B (8-8-4), PH Team E (7-3-2), Indonesia (4-4-3), PH Team B (3-1-4), PH Team D (1-1-2) and Brunei (0-0-1).