4th SEA Open Water meet pakakawalan sa Boracay

MANILA, Philippines —  Pakakawalan ang 4th Southeast Asian Open Water Championships na inihahandog ng Philippine Sports Commission sa Agosto 21 hanggang 23 sa Boracay Newcoast sa Malay, Aklan.

“Indonesia had its Bali, Thailand had its Pattaya, and now the Philippines has Boracay to be proud of so we fan anticipate even more swimmers and tourists to watch the open water swimming meet,” ani Philippine Aquatics Inc. secretary general Eric Buhain sa pagbisita niya sa nakaraang Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum.

Walo sa 11 miyembro ng Southeast Asian Swimming Federation ang maglalahok ng kanilang mga koponan, ayon kay PAI executive director Anthony Reyes sa nasabing three-day championships.

“They are Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam and of course, host Philippines,” wika ni Reyes sa inaugural hosting ng bansa sa open water swimming showcase.

Ayon kay Buhain, higit sa 200 swimmers ang inaasahang lalahok sa regular medal distances ng 5 at 10 kilometers sa men’s at women’s division na idaraos sa isang 1.66-kilometer square course.

“But we can expect more participants in the open water festival in the 3 and 5-kilometer distances that will be coincide with the regular meet so the numbers will swell, which is in keeping with PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio’s sports tourism advocacy,” wika ng dating national swimming standout.

Kinilala din ni Buhain ang suporta sa 4th Southeast Asian Open Water Championships ng Malay municipal at  Aklan provincial governments na pinamumunuan nina Mayor Frolibar Bautista at Gov. Jose Miraflores, ayon sa pagkakasunod.