Aquatics play big role in SEAG bid

THE COUNTRY’S performance in aquatics in the Southeast Asian Games from June 5 to 16 in Singapore will be a key factor in the Filipinos’ bid to improve on its previous seventh-place finish in the biennial competition.

“Hopefully, we can get gold medals in aquatics because among the sports, it has the biggest number of events,” said Philippine chief of mission Julian Camacho yesterday.

“It will boost our campaign if we can win medals in swimming.”

Aquatics offers 51 gold medals with 38 at stake in swimming, eight in diving, three in sychronized swimming and two in water polo.

With a measly collection of four bronze medals in Burma (Myanmar) back in 2013,  Camacho said it would be unacceptable if the country suffers another golden shutout.

Jasmine Alkhaldi will spearhead the 15-member swim team.

Alkhaldi topped the 100m freestyle in the Burma Games but organizers stripped the gold away and ordered a re-swim due to a false start. She went on to settle for a bronze.