LTSA gymnasts lead Philippines team to Korea

MANILA, Philippines — In a breakthrough development, the Philippines is fielding a full team of junior athletes to an international event – the 18th Junior and 12th Senior Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Jecheon, South Korea beginning on June 5.

And what makes this junior team even more remarkable is that four of the five members of the national squad selected by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) are entirely homegrown.

“This is a breakthrough not just for the athletes, but for every coach, club, and community that has invested in our grassroots initiatives. It’s a strong message that world-class talent can be developed right here at home,” said Sid Castro-Tayag, president of Learn and Train Sports Academy (LTSA), a local club where three of the new junior national team members belong.

They are Maxine Bondoc, 13, Sabina Tayag, 14, and Cielo Esliza, 15. The other members of the  juniors team are Elisabeth Antone and Tallulah Antonino Nadres. Lauren Supnet will lead the seniors team.

This achievement underscores the growing strength of the nation’s grassroots gymnastics programs by virtue of GAP’s mandate under its president Cynthia Carrion-Norton.