FESSAP holds national swimming tryouts for 2013 Universiade

MANILA, Philippines - The Federation of School Sports Associations of the Philippines is starting the selection process for swimming in summer for its participation in the 2013 World Universiade in Russia.

The FESSAP reached an agreement with the Philippine Swimming League under former Sen. Nikki Coseteng and founder Susan Papa for the holding of the first phase of the screening process, dubbed All-Star University Challenge, slated March 24-25 at the Rizal Memorial Swimming pool.

The FESSAP said it wanted to choose the very best from the collegiate ranks to represent the Philippines in the Universiade, considered the Olympics for universities and colleges throughout the world, following the medalless performance of the swimming team sent last year to Shenzhen, China.

Qualified students will form the national pool which will be trained by foreign and local coaches for a year before the Universiade.

A final selection committee, to be formed by FESSAP, will determine the final composition of the national team through national time trials in the months leading to the Universiade.

“This is a chance for varsity students, who have not participated in international events like the SEA Games and Asian Games, to fight for their country in a prestigious event like the Universiade, the highest competition for students worldwide,” said Papa. “The 2013 Universiade is a great sporting gala and a festival of youth as well.”

“ We want to prepare for it as early as now and we look forward to the participation of every college student,” said Papa.

“We are glad of this PSL set up of preparing candidates for the Universiade swimming events as early as now,” said FESSAP EVP Robert Calo.

The Universiade events are the men’s and women’s 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle, 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m individual medley and 4 x 50m, 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m freestyle relay and 4 x 50m, 4x100 and 4x200m medley relay.

“The Universiade is participated in by 205 countries and I sincerely hope a lot of college students will participate in this Olympic-like event,” said FESSAP president David Ong.

Coseteng, who actively supports Philippine swimming, has encouraged schools to participate in the national trials. 

“I encourage all college and secondary students and all universities to participate in the trials, which will be an all-university championship because it brings together the finest of the collegiate ranks,” she said.

Coordinating the selection process is University of the Philippines head coach Noel Rivera, who mentors the UAAP defending champion UP women’s squad.