DAGUPAN CITY – Just a few days after winning the overall championship in the recently concluded Region 1 Athletic Association (R1AA) meet, the Balon Dagupan athletes are gearing up for yet another major competition.
The city is sending a total of 49 athletes to see action in the Luzon Leg of the Batang Pinoy, a sports event organized by the Philippine Sports Commission slated March 16 to 23 in Ilagan City, Isabela.
They will compete in seven different sports events, namely archery, arnis, boxing, chess, karatedo, swimming and taekwondo where they are up against fellow athletes 15 years old and below from all over Luzon.
Before leaving for Ilagan City, each Batang Pinoy bet was given training and competition allowance of P4,500 by the city government at CSI Stadia on March 13.
Mayor Belen Fernandez personally wished the athletes good luck on their next quest for gold medals during the distribution of the financial incentive facilitated by the Dagupan City Sports Commission.
The mayor also promised the athletes a warm welcome home with a victory parade and party set to be held on March 25.
Meanwhile, Janelle Alisa T. Lin, one of the city’s star swimmers, conveyed her gratitude for the support given by the city government to athletes and in various sports programs.
“I’m dedicated to swimming because I want to win for Dagupan. Mayor (Fernandez) worked hard to help us athletes. This is one way to show how grateful I am for her and for my parents’ support, ” added Lin.
Lin hauled a total of seven gold medals in individual and medley events in the recent R1AA meet. She is set to compete in six events in Batang Pinoy as well as in the Palarong Pambansa slated in Davao this April. (Verdelle De Vera/CIO)