Zamboanga City readies for Batang Pinoy 2018

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1046324
• Saturday, September 1, 2018

By R. G. Antonet Go (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Preparations are underway for this city’s participation in the Philippine Youth Games (PYG) or Batang Pinoy 2018 national competition this year.

Dr. Cecilia Atilano, city sports development officer, on Wednesday said the Batang Pinoy 2018 is scheduled to be held from September 15 to 21 in Baguio City.

The Batang Pinoy is the national youth sports competition of the Philippines for athletes enrolled in elementary and secondary who are under 15 years old, including out-of-school-youth. It was established through Executive Order No. 44, which was signed by then President Joseph Estrada on December 2, 1998.

Atilano said this city is sending a 199-man delegation to the Batang Pinoy competition, including coaches and city government officials. Most of the local athletes are products of the yearly summer learn-to-play a sport of the city government, she added.

There are 26 sports events during the athletic event, including archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball 3-on-3, boxing, chess, cycling, dance sport, gymnastics, judo, karatedo, lawn tennis, pencak silat, rugby football, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, and wushu.

Atilano said the local athletic delegation is eyeing the top place in this year’s Batang Pinoy.

“We are monitoring the progress and training of the athletes. They should be in good health for the athletic competition,” she said.