SHANGHAI, China — Nakumpleto ni Philippine Swimming League (PSL) Swimmer of the Year Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh ang sweep matapos sumisid ng dalawang gintong medalya sa huling araw ng 2018 Shanghai Invitational Swimming Championships na ginaganap sa Oriental Sports Center dito.
Ipinagpatuloy ng Palarong Pambansa Most Bemedalled Athlete ang kanyang dominasyon nang pagreynahan ang girls’ 11-12 100m butterfly sa pamamagitan ng isang minuto at 7.25 segundong tiyempo sapat upang muling dispatsahin si Amber Lim ng China na nagrehistro ng 1:17.77 para sa pilak.
Napasakamay naman ni Kalibo, Aklan pride Joana Amor Cervas ang tanso tangan ang 1:25.74 sa torneong nilahukan ng 1,200 tankers mula sa mahigit 30 bansang dumating.
“She really is the future of Philippine swimming. She has already embraced the responsibility of carrying the national colors in international competitions. That’s why we’re sending our athletes abroad to further hone their skills and learn from their foreign counterparts,” wika ni PSL president Susan Papa.
Ngunit hindi dito natapos ang pamamayagpag ng 11-anyos na tanker nang muling umatake sa 200m butterfly kung saan nagsumite siya ng 2:27.97 para patumbahin ang mas matatangkad na Chinese swimmers.
Nauna nang nagbulsa si Mojdeh ng gintong medalya sa 50m butterfly sa kanyang 30.62 segundong ipinamalas sa opening day.
“It was a great performance and we’re looking forward to train her for the Southeast Asian Age-Group Championship come July in Manila. She’s qualified to compete in the SEA Age-Group because of her sterling showing in Palarong Pambansa,” dagdag pa ni Papa.
Nakahirit ng isang pilak at isang tanso si Lucio Cuyong sa boys’ 14-year event.
Sumegunda si Cuyong sa 200m breaststroke sa bisa ng 2:43.00 na naitala, habang pumangatlo naman siya sa 100m breaststroke makaraang ilagak ang 1:16.00.
Sa kabuuan, nakalikom ang PSL ng tatlong ginto, dalawang pilak at dalawang tansong medalya.
“We’re happy that we’ll be going home with medals. All three of them won medals in their respective events and I would like to congratulate them for a job well done. Competing against the likes of China and some other European swimmers in this event is already an achievement for them. But winning medals is just an icing on the cake,” wika pa ni Papa na kasama sa delegasyon sina PSL secretary general Maria Susan Benasa at regional director Joan Mojdeh.