MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Swimming League (PSL) standouts Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh of Immaculate Heart of Mary College-Parañaque and Aubrey Tom of Marikina Aquabears led the country’s four-medal haul on the opening day of the 21st Singapore Open Invitational Midget Meet Saturday at the Singapore Swimming Club.
Mojdeh, a multi-gold medalist in the Indian Ocean All-Star Challenge in Australia, pocketed the country’s first gold medal after dominating the girls’ 9 years 25-meter butterfly. She registered 15.97 seconds to outclass Singaporeans Kym Yong (17.03) and Wan Ni Tang (17.09).
Tom ruled the girls’ 8 years 25m butterfly in 17.15 seconds, beating silver medalist Yan Yuang Chiang of China (17.27) and bronze winner Charlotte Mondry of Singapore (17.90).
“It was a good start. We were able to meet our target as early as the morning results of day one. But we are looking for more medals as our other swimmers are scheduled to take part in different events here,” said PSL president Susan Papa.
Marc Bryan Dula of Wissenheimer Academy and Rafael Lentejas III of Ateneo de Manila University delivered one silver medal each in their respective divisions.
Dula took the runner-up honors in the boys’ 8 years 25m butterfly by virtue of his 17.23-second performance. Jie Lim of Singapore clinched the top spot (16.78) and Xu Sheng Chin of China the bronze (17.43).
Lentejas added another silver in the boys’ 7 years 25m butterfly after submitting 19.66 seconds with Kuo Shiong Cheng of China bagging the gold (18.55) while Yao Quan Michael Lim of Singapore earning the bronze (19.93).
PSL has already surpassed its one-gold, one-silver, one-bronze output in the 2014 edition.
“Malalakas talaga ang mga kasali dito pero hindi natatakot ang mga bata. Palaban talaga, ang lalakas ng loob nila kahit mas matatangkad mga kalaban nila. Magandang sign ito dahil mas tumatapang sila,” added Papa.
Also seeing action in their respective age-groups are Ethan Gabriel, Asha Segotier, Julyianna Calibjo, Khrystian Tan, Michael Samaniego, Rod Cuasay, Rodolf Rasay, Julia Basa, Chloe Laurente, Rex Dela Cruz Jr., Alexa Larrazabal, Amdre Dela Cruz, Mikyla Guzman, Tiffany Sanchez, Gian Banas, Morie Pabalan, Louise Famanilla, Venice Villarasa, John Bautista, Victor Cabrera, Chelsea Pastolero, Nicole Camacho, Janine Consul, Justin Badion, Allen Conda, Joshua Camacho and Prince Angeles.
PSL is the national sports association for swimming of the Federation of School Sports Associations of the Philippines. It has the longest running swimming grassroots development program in the country.