Over 300 triathletes vie in K-Swiss Asian tiff

MANILA, Philippines - More than 300 elite and age-group triathletes from 27 Asian countries will compete for honors in the K-Swiss Subic Bay ASTC Asian Triathlon Championships slated April 27-29  at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Asian powerhouse nations Japan, China, Kazakhstan, South Korea and Uzbekistan will be fielding their elite triathletes led by 2012 SUBIT champion and London Olympian Bai Faquan (China), Yuichi Hosoda (Japan), Jiang Zhihang(China), Ryosuke Yamamoto (Japan), Harunobu Sato (Japan), Kim Ji Hwan (Korea), Shohruh Yunusov (Uzbekistan) and former ITU world champion Dimitriy Gaag (Kazakhstan).

On the distaff side of the event sponsored by K-Swiss, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Tourism Department, Standard Insurance, Century Tuna, Speedo, David’s Salon, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Gatorade, Fitness First and the Philippine Sports Commission, current Asian No. 1 Zhang Yi of China will lead a large delegation that includes Zhong Mengying (Asia No. 2) and Xin Lingxi (Asia No. 3).

Challenging them will be Tomoko Sakimoto, Yuko Takahashi, Hideko Kikuchi and Kiyomi Niwata of Japan, Jang Yun Jung of Korea and Yekaterina Shatnaya of Kazakhstan.

Apart from the elite, competitions for under-23 and junior triathletes are attracting a large number of contenders as well.

Leading the Philippine delegation is current national record holder and champion Nikko Huelgas in the elite category, with  teammates John Chicano, Kim Mangrobang (U-23 women),  Mary Pauline Fornea, Kevin Eijansantos and Allen Santiago.

Youth Olympic Games aspirants Magali Echauz, Vicky Deldeo, Kate Lagman, Jimuel Patillan, Justin Chiongbian and Louie Lalanto will compete in the 15-16 junior sprints.

Registration is ongoing. Entry fees are P5,000 (until Feb. 28) for standard distance local participants and US$200 (until Fe. 28) for foreign non-residents; P4,000 (for locals) until Feb. 28 for sprint and mini-sprint distance, and US$ 150 for foreign non-residents. Team relay entry fees (until Feb. 28) are P8,000 for two-member teams and P12,000 for three-member teams. Entry forms are available at Speedo Concept Stores and Bikeking.

Information: Triathlon Association of the Philippines tel.  399-6598, 710-8259, 0916-5046513,  0915-6394233); email [email protected]. Triathlon.org.ph or at its Facebook.