Lingayen ready to host NL leg of Batang Pinoy

AFTER a successful launch in Marikina City last month, the Philippine Olympic Commitee-Philippine Sports Commission Batang Pinoy Games goes to Luzon in the nationwide search for talents that will represent the country in the 2014 Youth Olympics.

The Northern Luzon leg, kicking off tomorrow at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan, will feature 12 sports where qualifying spots for the national championship are offered.

Raw talents in the region will see action in arnis, athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, karatedo, lawn tennis, swimming, taekwondo and table tennis on top of the scheduled national finals in cycling and baseball.

“The Batang Pinoy Games here will give us a glimpse of future national team members capable of winning medals in international tournaments,” said Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr.

Pangasinan, host of the Palarong Pambansa early this year, expects about 1,000 participants to see action in Oct. 10 to 13 meet.

Espino will preside over the opening rites at 4 p.m. tomorrow following a meeting on the same day for tournament officials and organizers and a refresher course on Oct. 8.

Pangasinan will field some 300 athletes, excluding delegations from Alaminos and Dagupan. Also competing are athletes from Baguio City, La Union, Bulacan, Zambales, Pampanga, Ilocos, Isabela, Nueva Ecija and Cagayan.

The POC-PSC Batang Pinoy Games launched the first of five qualifying legs in Marikina last month with the top athletes advancing to the national championship in Iloilo City on Dec. 5 to 8.