A 5-man Philippine swimming team left for Netanya, Israel on Thursday night to compete in the prestigious 9th World Aquatics Junior Championships starting Sept. 5 (Manila time).
Comprising the PH team are junior record holders Micaela Mojdeh, Heather White banner the Philippine team Gian Santos, Alexander Eichler, and Marco Daos.
Daos took the place of Cambodia SEA Games double gold medalist Tea Salvino, who begged off from joining the team to concentrate her training for the coming Asian Games.
Former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner and swimming icon Akiko Thompson is head of the delegation while another Olympian Jessie King Lacuna is the head coach.
“On behalf of the entire Philippine Aquatics. Inc. (PAI) Board of Trustees headed by President Miko Vargas, we pray for the successful stint of our 5 swimmers to the World Aquatics Junior World Championships in Netanya Israel,” said PAI Secretary-General and Batangas 1st District Congressman Eric Buhain.
“We hope that they gain a lot of positive experiences and inspiration from the event,” said Buhain.
Both Mojdeh and White were part of the squad that took part in last year’s edition in Lima, Peru, with the former making it to the semifinals in the 100m butterfly. Mojdeh’s second stint in the World Junior thrilled the country’s No.1 junior athlete.
“I am excited because my teammates from Bellevue Swim club Piper and Clare will also be representing USA and Canada respectively in this big event,” said the 16-year-old Mojdeh of Brent International School in Laguna.
