PINANGALANAN ng Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) ang 44 atleta – 22 boys at 22 girls – na sasabak sa 11th Asian Age Group Swimming Championships mula Feb. 26 hanggang March 9 sa world-class New Clark City (NCC) Aquatics Center sa Capas, Tarlac.
Ang mga swimmer ay pinili base sa World Aquatics qualifying points sa idinaos na national tryouts sa Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool sa Rizal Memorial Sports Complex noong nakaraang Oktubre.
Nasa 1,400 swimmers ang inaasahang lalahok sa torneo na orihinal na nakatakda ngayong buwan. Ang bansa ay maaaring magpasok ng hanggang 44 entries.
“In line with our formal request to the World Aquatics for the recognition of this championship as an official qualifying competition for the 2024 Paris Olympics, we anticipate a fierce and spirited competition among the 45 participating countries of Asia Aquatics,” pahayag ni PAI Secretary General at Batangas 1st District Rep. Eric Buhain sa isang memorandum na ipinadala sa lahat ng swimming stakeholders noong Dec. 19.
Mangunguna sa kampanya ng bansa sina 2023 Fukuoka World Championships veteran Xandi Chua ng TopSwim Club at 2022 Vietnam SEA Games gold medalist Chloe Isleta ng One Ilocos Sur na sasabak sa girls’ 18 years old and above 200m Individual Medley at 50m freestyle makaraang makalikom ng 762 at 749 World Aquatics points, ayon sa pagkakasunod..
Makakasama nila sina Thanya Dela Cruz ng Ayala Harpoons (50m breaststroke,31.83), Erin Castrillo ng Rising Atlantis (50m backstroke,30.80), Alyssa Ng ng Waver Runners (50m breaststroke,33.97) at Quendy Fernandez ng Palawan Swim Club (100m backstroke,1:05.49).
Si Fernandez ay miyembro ng University of the Philippines swimming team. Ang UAAP Season 86 MVP at Rookie of the Year ay nagwagi ng anim na gold medals sa Philippine National Games noong nakaraang linggo.
Lalahok sa men’s 18 years old and above category sina Joshua Gabriel Ang ng Golden Sea Eagles (100m butterfly, 54.63), Jemmuel Booh De Leon ng Aklan Swimming Club (50m butterfly, 25.00), Raymund Vera Paloma ng Nautilus (400m freestyle, 4:07.61), Rian Marco Tirol (50m breaststroke, 29.49) at brothers Miguel (100m freestyle, 51.79) at Rafael Barreto (100m butterfly, 55.44) ng Ayala Harpoons.
Ang mga kalahok sa boys’ 15-17 class ay sina Albert Jose Amaro ng San Beda (50m butterfly, 25.67), Evo Nicolai Enot ng Ayala Harpoons (100m freestyle, 54.10), Peter Cyrus Dean ng Killerwhale Elite (50m backstroke, 27.47), Paulo Miguel Labanon ng Rasa Wavemaker (200m freestyle, 1:59.58), Aaron Gordoncillo ng NOBD Swimmers (50m breaststroke, 30.53), Zayden Ramos ng Behrouz Elite (50m freestyle, 24.76), Huge Antonio Parto ng Behrouz Elite (100m butterfly, 58.55), at Jaime Uandorr Maniago ng Waverunners (50m breaststroke, 31.15).
Sa girls’ division ay sina Heather White (50m freestyle, 26.47)) at Jasmine Mojdeh(200m butterfly, 2:18.50), Qatar-based Arabella Taguinota, (100m breastroke, 1:12.82), Trixie Ortiguerra ng Tarlac Mako Shark (50m backstroke, 31.20), Cy Delos Santos ng Marikina Poseidon (50 breaststroke, 33.95), Patricia Mae Cantor ng Ilustre East Aquatics (100m butterfly, 1:04.84), FJ Catherine Cruz ng Mabalacat City Race (50m backstroke, 26.19), at Kacie Gabrielle Tionko ng Salabides Swim Sting (100m freestyle, 1:01.07).
Sa boys 12-14 ay nasa lineup sina national junior record-holder Jamesray Ajido ng QC Buccaneers (100m butterfly, 57.12), Rodevic Gonzalvo ng Green Blasters(100m butterfly, 1:01.27), Aishel Evangelista ng Beta Swim Club (400m freestyle, 4:26.00), Ashton Clyde Jose ng Leviathan Swim (200m breaststroke, 2:34.90), Jet Daryl Berueda ng Daxx Swim Club (100m freestyle, 57.75), Rio Coliyat ng Aqua Sonics (200m breaststroke, 2:36.63), Elijah Ebayan ng South Warriors Swim (50m butterfly, 27.81), at Sebastian Marcelo ng Barracuda (50m breaststroke, 32.69).
Ang mga nag-qualify sa girls 12-14 category ay sina Raina Coleman ng Dax Swim (100m breaststroke, 1:16.90), Kyla Loise Bulaga ng La Union BullShark (100m butterfly, 1:07.04), Nuche Veronica Ibit ng Aklan Swim Team (50m freestyle, 28.63), Liv Abigail Florendo ng Ilocos Sur Aqua (200m freestyle, 2:17.06), Paulene Obebe ng Aqua Sprint (50m freestyle, 28.86), Krystal Ava David ng Golden Sea Eagles (200m breaststroke, 2:50.48), Kaisha Blair Asturiano ng Flying Lampasot (100m freestyle, 1:03.66) at Jemeina Pagaran ng Otters Swimming (50m backstroke, 33.28).
Ang Asian Age Group Swimming Championships ang ikalawang international competition na idaraos sa New Clark City Swimming Complex matapos ang 30th Southeast Asian Games noong 2019.
(PNA)
