Eight-year-old shines in Hong Kong swim meet

MANILA, Philippines - Eight-year-old swimmer Charles Emmanuel Ticbaen of the Philippine Swimming League-Diliman Preparatory School emerged as the most outstanding swimmer in the Boys 8-and-under category at the close of the Hong Kong Invitational swim meet yesterday.

Ticbaen won four gold medals – in the 100m individual medley, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly - and bronze medal in the 50m backstroke to lead the lean PSL team headed by DPS president and former Sen. Nikki Coseteng and PSL president Susan Papa.

San Beda College and VISSA also participated in the inter-club competition which drew over 500 swimmers from 15 swimming clubs from Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, China, Taipei and London.

“This is a great developmental and exciting swim meet, where the international swimming federation (FINA) rules of participation do not apply,” said Coseteng.

Other PSL winners were Joshua Viloria, Raymond Joshua Sevilla, Charles Dacanay, Ian Sakay and Aidan Doherty.