OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental -- The search for new sports heroes continues as 4,000 athletes, coaches, technical officials, and delegation officials, representing 70 cities and provinces all over Mindanao, converge for the 2017 Batang Pinoy Mindanao qualifying leg.
It formally opened here on Tuesday, March 6, with various field demonstrations at the Misamis Occidental Provincial Athletics Complex (MOPAC).
The keynote speaker is Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez. However, the latter’s inspirational message had to be delivered by PSC Commissioner Celia Hicarte-Kiram who is also the oversight Commissioner for the Batang Pinoy.
Misamis Occidental Governor Herminia Ramiro, along with Oroquieta City Mayor Jason Almonte, who willingly accepted the challenge of hosting the Batang Pinoy for the first time, also gave welcome messages. PSC Commissioners Ramon Fernandez, Charles Raymond Maxey and Arnold Agustin also attended the ceremonies.
Athletes aged 15 years old and below will vie for top honors in a total of 20 sports disciplines, including arnis, archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball (boys and girls), boxing, chess, dancesport, karatedo, lawn tennis, pencak silat, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and beach volley.
Meanwhile, medalists in each sports discipline will advance to the Batang Pinoy National Finals and compete against the top medalists from the Luzon and Visayas qualifying legs Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental are sending in their budding young athletes here especially in chess and volleyball, among others.