Swimmers aiming to join the national training pool have until March 15 to register with the Philippine Swimming Inc., the association’s secretary general Lani Velasco said yesterday.
“The deadline applies not just to Filipinos from overseas but for locals as well,” Velasco told the Bulletin during a break in a FINA-sanctioed seminar for swimming officials at the Philsports in Pasig.
Velasco, who has taken over the running of the PSI’s affairs from absentee president Mark Joseph, believes there are prized finds from among the 20 the PSI is trying to sign up from the US, Canada and Australia.
“As of now, I can see four who can win medals in the Southeast Asian Games (this August),” said Velasco.
Swimming is under pressure to improve on its showing when the SEAG is held from Aug. 19-31 in Kuala Lumpur following years and years of neglect.
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is even acting on the matter with secretary general Steve Hontiveros tasked to handle the matter.
Hontiveros even ordered the group of former national swimmer Ral Rosario not to proceed with an election of officers for March 8.
“I want them to iron out kinks regarding the voting membership first before holding an election,” said Hontiveros.
The PSI has 14 voting members and it doesn’t include Velasco, who has been running the affairs of the PSI since November 2015.
Since the retirement of Fil-Am Miguel Molina in 2009, the Philippines has been performing miserably in the sport with Hawaii-based Jasine Alkhaldi getting a mere bronze in 2015 in Singapore.