Baguio athletes prepare to defend title in ‘Batang Pinoy‘ 2023 nat’l finals

Baguio City, Philippines – Baguio City athletes, who reigned supreme as the overall champion in the Batang Pinoy National Championships 2022, are looking forward to defending their title.

Last year, the city delegation achieved a 100-medal mark with 31 gold medals, 30 silver, and 39 bronze medals. Even during the pre-pandemic tilts, the city has been winning the national youth sports competition for athletes under 15 years old.

Sports Development Officer IV of Baguio Sports Office, Gaudencio Gonzales, said over 300 athletes are now training in various schools in the city, in preparation for the event slated for Dec. 17 to 22 in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, over 200 athletes will take part in the Philippine National Games, a multi-sporting event aimed at finding the possible composition of the national team, which will be held alongside Batang Pinoy, also in Metro Manila.

It is a challenge, he said, for the delegation to remain competitive to sustain their spot.

Gonzales acknowledged that among their challenges are funds for the competitions. He said they need over P500,000 to support the athletes joining the tilts.

In his interview with Bombo Radyo Baguio, the Sports Development Officer explained that the over P14 million cash winnings they received from previous national competitions were used for sports equipment and for additional cash incentives for athletes, including medalists and non-medalists.

Gonzales further underscored that the city government has always been supportive of youth sports development. Like before, he and his team will only need to submit a request for funding.

LISTEN TO STATION 1 RADIO: CLICK ME

OTHER NEWS 

Festivals in Cordillera to take spotlight on Nov. 11

Follow Guru Press Cordillera  on Facebook for more News and Information