Swimmer Yu makes Youth Olympics Games

MANILA, Philippines — Roxanne Ashley Yu made it to the Youth Olympic Games slated Aug. 16 to 28 in Nanjing, China, by winning the girls’ 200-meter backstroke gold medal in the 57th Malaysian Open at Bukit Jalil Aquatic Centre in Kuala Lumpur last weekend.

The Philippine Swimming Inc. yesterday announced that the 17-year-old Yu made the cut in the A category when she clocked two minutes and 19.53 seconds in ruling her favorite event.

She also breached the qualifying B time in the 100m back with a time of 1:05.50 which earned her a silver in the same meet, as well as the 50m back where she did 31.03 in Singapore last March.

Jethro Chua also made the qualifying B cut in the 200m freestyle with a 1:56.78 clocking in the Malaysian Open.

Swimmers hurdling the cut in the B category may join the field in Nanjing depending on the number of qualifiers.

Both Yu and Chua were also granted scholarships at the British International School in Thailand under coach Simon Jones, who works with the Australian Olympic team as a molecular physiologist and expert in strength training.

“They’re given boarding school which basically has high standard international baccalaureate education which for the next two years will cost about P7 million,” said PSI president Mark Joseph.