INILABAS ng Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) ang mga pangalan ng 44 na batang manlalangoy – 22 lalaki at 22 babae – na kwalipikadong lumaban bilang miyembro ng Philippine Team sa prestihiyosong 11th Asian Age Group Aquatics Championships na gaganapin sa Pebrero 26 hanggang Marso 9 sa New Clark Aquatics Center sa Capas, Tarlac.
Sa opisyal na memorandum na may petsang Disyembre 19 sa lahat ng swimming stakeholders at nilagdaan ni PAI Secretary General Batangas 1st District Congressman Eric Buhain, nalagpasan ng 44 young swimmers ang itinakdang FINA qualifying points sa National tryouts na ginanap nitong Oktubre sa Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool sa Maynila.
Nasa 2,000 batang manlalangoy mula sa 45 bansa sa buong Asya ang inaasahang lalahok sa torneo na orihinal na nakatakda sa Disyembre ngayong taon. Ang bawat kalahok na bansa ay maaari lamang maglagay ng maximum na 44 na manlalangoy.
“In addition, 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 Buhain, a two-time Olympian and Philippine Sports Hall-of-Famer.
Ang women’s 18-over squad ay binubuo ng beterano ng World Championships at Southeast Asian Games medalists na sina Chloe Isleta ng One Ilocos Sur at Xiandi Chua ng TopSwim Club na kwalipikadong lumangoy sa 200m Individual Medley at 50m Freestyle na nakakuha ng 762 at 749 na puntos sa World Aquatics , ayon sa pagkakasunod.
Makakasama nila sina Thanya Dela Cruz ng Ayala Harpoons (50m breast,31.83), Erin Castrillo ng Rising Atlantis (50m back,30.80), Alyssa Ng ng Waver Runners (50m breast,33.97) at 2023 Philippine National Games (PNG) sixth gold medal winner at UAAP Most Outstanding Athlete Quendy Fernandez ng Palawan Swim Club (100m back,1:05.49).
Ang men’s 18-above squad ay binubuo nina Joshua Gabriel Ang ng Golden Sea Eagles (100m fly,54.63), Jemmuel Booh De Leon ng Aklan Swimming Club (50m fly,25.00), Raymund Vera Paloma ng Nautilus (400m free, 4:07.61 ), Rian Marco Tirol (50m breast,29.49) at magkapatid na Miguel (100m free, 51.79) at Rafael Barreto (100m fly, 55.44) ng Ayala Harpoons.
Kwalipikado para sa Boys 15-17 class sina Albert Jose Amaro ng San Beda (50m fly, 25.67), Evo Nicolai Enot ng Ayala Harpoons (100m free, 54.10), Peter Cyrus Dean ng Killerwhale Elite (50m back, 27.47), Paulo Miguel Labanon ng Rasa Wavemaker (200m free, 1:59.58), Aaron Gordoncillo ng NOBD Swimmers (50m breast, 30.53), Zayden Ramos ng Behrouz Elite (50m free, 24.76), Huge Antonio Parto ng Behrouz Elite (100m fly, 58.55), at Jaime Uandorr Maniago ng Waverunners (50m breast, 31.15 n).
Nangunguna sa grupong Girls 15-17 sina World Junior Championships campaigner Heather White at Jasmine Mojdeh, magkasama sa Behrouz Elite. Sasabak sila sa 50m free (26.47) at 200m fly (2:18.50). Kasama rin sina Qatar-based Arabella Taguinota, (100m breast, 1:12.82), Trixie Ortiguerra ng Tarlac Mako Shark (50m back, 31.20), Cy D Delos Santos ng Marikina Poseidon (50 breast, 33.95), Patricia Mae Cantor of Ilustre East Aquatics (100m fly, 1:04.84), FJ Catherine Cruz ng Mabalacat City Race (50m back, 26.19), at Kacie Gabrielle Tionko ng Salabides Swim Sting (100m free, 1:01.07).
Ang grupo ng Boys 12-14 ay binubuo ng National Junior record holder na si Jamesray Ajido ng QC Buccaneers (100m fly, 57.12), Rodevic Gonzalvo ng Green Blasters(100m fly, 1:01.27), Aishel Evangelista ng Beta Swim Club (400m free, 4: 26.00), Ashton Clyde Jose ng Leviathan Swim (200m breast, 2:34.90), Jet Daryl Berueda ng Daxx Swim Club (100m free, 57.75), Rio Coliyat ng Aqua Sonics (200m breast, 2:36.63), Elijah Ebayan ng South Warriors Swim (50m fly, 27.81), Sebastian Marcelo ng Barracuda (50m breast, 32.69).
Sasabak sa grupong Girls 12-14 sina Raina Coleman ng Dax Swim (100m breast, 1:16.90), Kyla Loise Bulaga ng La Union BullShark (100m fly, 1:07.04), Nuche Veronica Ibit ng Aklan Swim Team (50m free, 28.63), Liv Abigail Florendo ng Ilocos Sur Aqua (200m libre, 2:17.06), Paulene Obebe ng Aqua Sprint (50m libre, 28.86), Krystal Ava David ng Golden Sea Eagles (200m dibdib, 2:50.48), Kaisha Blair Asturiano ng Flying Lampasot (100m free, 1:03.66) at Jemeina Pagaran ng Otters Swimming (50m back, 33.28). (HATAW NEWS TEAM)