Manila: Almost 19,000 athletes from 188 local government units are participating in the biggest and grandest edition of the Batang Pinoy National Championships, which officially opened here Saturday. This city’s pride, eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, and Tokyo Olympics gold medalist weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz of Zamboanga joined the torch relay. Diaz ran before handing off the torch to Pacquiao, who lit the cauldron to symbolize the start of the competition.
According to Philippines News Agency, organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the national games for athletes aged 12 to 17 features 18,741 athletes, accompanied by 4,397 coaches, competing in 27 sports: archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, chess, cycling, dancesport, futsal, gymnastics, jiu-jitsu, judo, kickboxing, karate, muay, pencak silat, sepak takraw, soft tennis, swimming, tennis, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, and wushu.
Swimming and athletics will kick off action at Antonio Acharon Sports Complex on Sunday morning. Pasig City will defend its crown after winning last year’s overall championship with 105 gold, 64 silver, and 116 bronze medals. Host General Santos City, meanwhile, is hoping to improve on its fifth-place finish in the 2024 meet held in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
A PHP15-million prize pool awaits the top performers — PHP5 million for the champion, PHP4 million for second place, PHP3 million for third, PHP2 million for fourth, and PHP1 million for fifth. Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla delivered the keynote address during the opening ceremony. PSC Chair John Patrick Gregorio and General Santos City Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao also delivered speeches.
