Batang Pinoy Visayas qualifiers get going

TACLOBAN CITY—Athletes in track and field, boxing and swimming take the spotlight as the POC-PSC Batang Pinoy 2012 Visayas qualifying kicks off today at Leyte Sports Development Center here.

Track and field will have 10 gold medals up for grabs, while action in swimming and boxing is also expected to heat up as the three highly anticipated sports banner the 13-sport schedule of the week-long meet for athletes 15 years old and younger.

Western, Central and Eastern Visayas, which have produced some of the country’s best athletes, mix it up to determine who will represent the region to the National Finals slated in Iloilo City on Dec. 5 to 9.

PSC Commissioner Jolly Gomez, former Leyte governor and now Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Gov. Ma. Mimietta Bagulaya and Vice Gov. Florante Cayunda led the opening ceremonies yesterday.

Arnis, badminton, chess, karatedo, lawn tennis, taekwondo and table tennis are also on tap as qualifying events.

Tracksters from Cebu and Negros Occidental are expected to show the way in athletics events, while Negros Oriental is anticipated to dominate the race for boxing supremacy.

Tacloban City is fielding 93 athletes to maximize its campaign, which is expected to focus on athletics and badminton. Cebu City has 91 bets, while province of Leyte sent 54 and Maasin City fielded 49.