Baguio Sends Large Contingent to Philippine National Games and Batang Pinoy

MANILA: The city of Baguio is set to dispatch a delegation of approximately a thousand individuals, including athletes, officials, and medical personnel, to participate in the Philippine National Games (PNG) and Batang Pinoy, scheduled to occur from December 17 to 22 in Manila. Gaudencio Gonzales, the city’s sports and development officer, stated in a recent media interview that the delegation comprises 992 athletes – 622 participating in Batang Pinoy and 370 in the PNG. Gonzales expressed confidence in the preparation of the athletes who have been continuously training for the events.

As per the data from the Philippine Sports Commission, nearly 14,000 athletes under the age of 17 will compete in Batang Pinoy, while almost 4,000 athletes aged 18 and above will showcase their talents in the PNG. The opening ceremony, to be held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila, will feature the presence of 2020 Tokyo Olympics medalists Hidilyn Diaz and Eumir Felix Marcial, both of whom are former participants in Batang Pinoy and PNG. Gonzales highlighted the significance of these events as the first major competitions post-pandemic, noting the eagerness of athletes for competitive exposure. Despite the simultaneous scheduling of both major sporting events, Gonzales assured that Baguio’s athletes are well-prepared. The city is expected to perform strongly in sports like taekwondo, muay thai, kickboxing, wrestling, arnis, and archery, where they have traditionally excelled.