PORMAL na binuksan ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), sa pamamagitan ng tanggapan ni Commissioner Olivia “Bong’’ Coo, ang Women’s Indoor & Para Games Festival kahapon bilang bahagi ng maagang paghahanda ng ahensiya para sa 2024 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG).
May slogan na “123 Dash to the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games,” ang ten-day, all-female sports event, ay dinaluhan ng mahigit sa 400 atleta at technical officials sa multiple sports sa opening ceremony sa Philsports Complex sa Pasig City.
“This event was conducted to strengthen and unite our female athletes from every sport as early as today, in preparation for the AIMAG.” wika ni Commissioner Coo sa kanyang opening message.
Ang Women’s Indoor & Para Games Festival ay tinatampukan ng limang events — athletics, bowling, chess, fencing at netball — kasama ang dalawang events para sa para athletes na para chess at para athletics.
Naniniwala rin ang lady commissioner na maaaring samantalahin ng national team ang biglang pagbabago ng iskedyul ng AIMAG sa kanilang pagsasanay at paghahanda.
Ang kumpetisyon para sa bowling ay nagsimula na sa Starmall EDSA Shaw noong Biyernes, June 14, gayundin ang chess at para chess tournaments noong Sabado, July 15. Nakatakda naman ang fencing, netball, athletics at para-athletics events sa July 16-21, sa Philsports’ Dining Hall, Fencing Hall, Multi-Purpose Arena at Track Oval, ayon sa pagkakasunod-sunod.
Ang officiating sa mga laro ay pamumunuan ng kani-kanilangnational sports associations.
Dumalo rin sa opening ceremony sina Chef de Mission for AIMAG at Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation, Inc. (KPSFI) President Richard Lim, Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Exec. Director Atty. Kristine Yuzon-Chaves, National Chess Federation of Philippines (NCFP) President Prospero Pichay, Netball Federation, Inc. President Atty. Charlie Ho, at Philippine Pole and Aerial Sports Association President Ms. Ciara Sotto.
Pinarangalan din si chess rising talent NM Nika Juris Nikolas, na kinilala kamakailan bilang pinakabatang National Master, sa opening ceremony.
-CLYDE MARIANO
