Tatlumpu’t-tatlong sports disciplines ang paglalabanan ng mga miyembro ng pambansang koponan at ng national pool hopefuls sa idaraos na 2015 Philippine National Games (PNG) National Championship sa Lingayen, Pangasinan sa Marso 7 hanggang 11.

Sinabi ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richie Garcia na pagkakataon ngayon ng national athletes na ipakitang nararapat silang manatili sa pambansang koponan sa pagpapakita ng kani-kanilang kakayanan laban sa mga nagkuwalipika at mga baguhang atleta na asam mapabilang sa pambansang koponan.

“Our national athletes are given monthly allowances to train and prepare for local and international competitions that is why they need to show that they deserve to have a slot in the national squad,” sabi ni Garcia. “Our policy remains that kapag natalo sila, aalisan sila ng mga natatanggap nilang mga benefits,” ayon pa kay Garcia.

Ipinaliwanag naman ni PNG at Batang Pinoy Project Director Atty. Ma. Fe “Jay” Alano na 912 mula sa kabuuang 1,667 atleta na lumahok sa Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao qualifying leg ang umabot sa national championships na kinukonsiderang pagsasama ng pinakamahuhusay na atleta sa bansa.

“We have 610 qualifiers from Luzon, some 98 in Mindanao and then 204 in the Visayas for a total of 912 athletes that will compete against our elite athletes and national training pool and some more athletes coming from Pangasinan being the host province,” sabi ni Alano.

Masusubok din sa PNG National Championships ang lahat ng mga priority athletes at maging nagwagi ng ginto sa nakalipas na 2015 Southeast Asian Games sa Singapore, gayundin ang nasa training pool na sasailalim sa mapanuring mata ng POC at PSC.

“Remember, all those that are wanting to join the qualifying event of the 2016 Rio Olympics must now show that they are qualified and are prepared to compete in their target international competition,” sabi pa ni Garcia.

Ang pinakabagong sports sa PNG ay ang fin swimming at dragonboat at makakasama ng mga regular ng events na archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, billiards, boccia, bowling boxing, bridge, canoe-kayak-dragonboat, chess, cheerleading, cycling, dancesports, diving, fencing, football, futsal, goalball, gymnastics, golf, handball, judo, karatedo, lawn tennis, motocross, muaythai, pencak silat, powerlifting, rugby football, sailing, sepaktakraw, shooting, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, volleyball, beach volleyball, wall climbing, waterpolo, weightlifting, windsurfing, wrestling, wushu at underwater hockey.

Ang POC-PSC National Games at Batang Pinoy ay nasa ikalimang taon na mula ng buhayin ng PSC kasama ng Philippine Olympic Committee, Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government at ang mga Local Government Units. (ANGIE OREDO)