Over 500 swimmers are expected to participate in Congress of the Philippine Aquatics (COPA) National Capital Region ‘One For All-All For One Championships slated this weekend at the Teofilo Ildefonso Swimming Center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RSMC) in Malate, Manila.
COPA co-founder Chito Rivera said teams and students from public schools are free of charge in the three-day tournament that also serves as a fund-raising event.
Proceeds will go to the family of the late swimming coach Elcid Evangelista.
The age-group competitions are for boys and girls 6-under, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18-year-old and over. The age of reckoning is December 31, 024.
“This is part of a series of COPA competitions aimed at fostering camaraderie and boosting the swimmer’s development at the grassroots level. But of course, expect tough competition as some of our Palarong Pambansa qualifiers are confirmed to join the event,” said Batangas 1st District Congressman Eric Buhain, COPA co-founder and Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) Secretary-General.
“Also, this will serve as part of our young swimmers’ preparation for the coming National tryouts on August 15-18 to select members of the team for the Southeast Asian Age Group SEA Age Group Championship slated in Bangkok in December,” added the Philippine Sports Hall-of-Famer.
Among the swimmers to watch are multi-titled Nicola Diamante from RSS Dolphins in Paranaque, Asian Age-Group Championships campaigner Patricia Mae Santor from the University of Santo Tomas, along with Rio Balbuena, Jada Cruz, Amber Arano, Kristoffe David and Audrina Victor.
The association is preparing the national team pool members to vie in four international tournaments – World Cup in Shanghai, China (October 18-20), Korea World Cup in Incheon (Oct. 24-26), Singapore World Cup (Oct. 31t- Nov. 2) and the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary (Dec. 10-15).
