Lingayen stages Batang Pinoy leg

MANILA, Philippines - Action in the Batang Pinoy Games resumes tomorrow with the staging of the Northern Luzon leg at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Athletes aged 15 years old and below will vie for top honors in 12 sports in the four-day meet which also offers qualifying slots for the national championship at the end of the year.

Events on tap are arnis, athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, karatedo, lawn tennis, swimming, taekwondo and table tennis while cycling and baseball will hold their respective national finals during the meet.

“Besides showcasing young athletes with exceptional talent, the Batang Pinoy Games here is a glimpse of future national team members capable of winning medals in international tournaments,” said Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr.

Athletics and badminton will be played at NRSCC, arnis at Pangasinan State University, boxing at Lingayen plaza, taekwondo at Pangasinan training and development center, table tennis at alley building, chess at Pangasinan provincial library, baseball at Capitol beach front, cycling on Maramba Blvd. while swimming will be held in Dagupan City.

Pangasinan will field in 300 athletes apart from separate delegations from Alaminos and Dagupan. Participants from Baguio City, La Union, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Viscaya and Ilocos are expected to challenge the host province for supremacy.

Gov. Espino will welcome the athletes in a brief opening ceremony at 4 p.m. tomorrow following the solidarity meeting among tournament officials and organizers and a refresher course today.

The POC-PSC Batang Pinoy Games kicked off in Marikina City last month with the best and brightest athletes in each of the five legs competing in the national championship in Iloilo City on Dec. 5-8.