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| (L-R) Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) Inc. president Maribeth Repizo-Santos, FINIS Philippines managing director and triathlon coach Vince Garcia, Behrouz Restaurant owner Harold Mojdeh and Swim League Philippines (SLP) team manager Joan Mojdeh (Image Source: Manila Standard/Swim League Philippines) |
Homegrown swimming talent is deep, vibrant and overflowing as shown in the results of enthusiastic programs from various swimming clubs in the country including the Swim League Philippines (SLP) in collaboration with FINIS Philippines. SLP team manager Joan Mojdeh insisted that the participation of young swimmers at the grassroots level has become more aggressive because of the inspiration created by the athletes who are now at a high level of competition in both local and international competitions.
“We’re happy sa nakikita naming turn-out ng mga participants sa local tournaments. On our case, sa SLP tuloy-tuloy kasi ‘yung ang aming monthly tournaments and collaboration sa mga provincial clubs. This August, may event kami sa Sta. Rosa for Southern Tagalog members. Then may naka-lineup din kaming international meet na ginagawa namin regularly para talagang masanay ang mga bata,” said Mojdeh as the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports, Inc.'s ‘Usapang Sports’ returned with its face-to-face forum last July 28, 2022 at the Behrouz Restaurant in Timog, Quezon City. “Sa nakita nilang resulta from grassroots ng SLP, then aangat sa elite team sa aming BEST (Behrouz Elite Swimming Team ), then sa National Team under the Philippine Swimming Inc., mas nagpupursige ang mga bata na mas ma-develop at mapalakas ang personal time nila,” Mojdeh added. Currently, four swimmers — national junior record holder Jasmine Mojdeh, siblings Rueben and Heather White and Amina Isabelle Bungubung — who are products of the SLP program, are part of the eight-member Philippine Team sanctioned by the Philippine Swimming Inc. to compete in the World Junior Championship from August 30 to September 4 in Lima, Peru.
“Our young swimmers are more enthusiastic knowing that a lot of opportunities are waiting for them. Besides slots for the National Team, it is also possible for them to get scholarships in big universities and play for UAAP and NCAA, or get scholarships in other countries,” said Mojdeh in the weekly sports forum sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusements Board and Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). Triathlon coach and FINIS Philippines Managing Director Vince Garcia echoed Mojdeh’s statement while adding that sports can help a lot not only in the healthy physique of the youth but in molding a strong personality. “That’s actually what were doing. Ang pagkakaiba lang sa aming FINIS program, we’re trying to give them a chance to compete in a global type of environment because our championship is based on how an international competition is going. From prizes, medals and format, para na rin silang sumali sa tournament abroad. Of course, the BEST swimmers are already experienced, but there are some or many who never experienced this, kaya kami we want to train them para malaman nila na ganito ang scenario once they compete in high level competition,” said Garcia.
