The Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) will host the 1st National Age Group Championships (PANAGOC) this weekend at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool inside the famed Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
The three-day event which starts today (Friday) will feature the
country’s top junior swimmers including Asian junior gold medalist and record
holder Jamesray Mishael Ajido, two-time World Junior Championship campaigner
Jasmine Mojdeh, and fellow Asian meet campaigner Aishel Evangelista, Patricia
Mae Santor, and Ricielle Maleeka Melencio.
Newly appointed PAI Executive Director Anthony Reyes said around
700 swimmers from more than 50 teams and swimming clubs nationwide have been
confirmed to participate in the biggest local swimming competition since PAI
introduced the national ranking system for all local swimming body registered
members.
The meet format is timed Finals for Class A, B, and C 8-under, 9,
10, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18-over age groups. The Philippine Sports
Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and Speedo sponsor the event.
PAI Secretary-General Batangas 1st District
Congressman Eric Buhain said a short tribute for the late Executive Director
Francisco ‘Chito’ Rivera will highlight the opening ceremony on Friday at 8:00
a.m. The 67-year-old Rivera, varsity swimming head coach of the Jose Rizal
University and co-founder of the Congress of Philippine Aquatics (COPA)
succumbed to a heart attack recently.
“Coach Chito (Rivera) is a great loss to Philippine aquatics. But
his legacy lives on as we continue to put our best foot forward to further
enhance the development of swimming and the other disciplines in aquatics.
We're targeting a better future in open water, water polo, diving, and artistic
swimming, from regional to national levels,” said Buhain.
The swimmer’s registration was Rivera’s brainchild and now legacy
added Buhain.
“All these align with coach Chito’s hard work and planning, and we
take pride in continuing these reforms to improve aquatics for all concerned,”
said the two-time Olympian and Philippine Sports Hall-of-Famer.
PAI president Miko Vargas will join Buhain in the ceremony. Also
invited to witness the handover of the plaque of recognition to Rivera’s family
are Philippine Olympic Association (POA) president and swimming icon Akiko
Thompson, and two-time Olympian and former National mentor Pinky Brosas.
Ajido, 15, became the talk of the town when he gave the country the
first-ever gold medal at the Asian level after ruling the boys’ 12-14 100m
butterfly at the 11th Asian Age Group Championships last February at the New
Clark City Aquatics Center. His winning time of 55.98 seconds was a new meet
record, erasing the 56.36 set by Chinese Wang Yu Xiang in 2019.
Photo: Ajido: Asian Age-Group record holder.
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