A six-man national team bannered by two-time Olympian Jasmine Alkhaldi vies for pride and glory when it competes in the 17th World Aquatics Championships from 23 to 30 July in Fukuoka, Japan.
The 30-year-old former University of Hawaii star is tipped to be at her best when she leads the powerhouse squad that also includes Southeast Asian Games standouts Xiandi Chua, Thanya dela Cruz, Jerard Jacinto and Jarod Hatch.
The Filipinos qualified in the annual event based on the points they gained from events sanctioned by World Aquatics.
Beijing Olympics veteran Ryan Arabejo will coach the team that was assembled by the Philippine Swimming Inc. headed by newly-elected president Miko Vargas and secretary general Eric Buhain.
Buhain said their hopes are high on the athletes, who are out to pull a surprise against the world’s best tankers.
“The presence of the world’s best swimmers makes this tournament a fierce competition. But our athletes are out to experience the atmosphere in a high-level tournament, try to improve their personal best times, and sharpen their skills,” said Buhain, one of the country’s most distinguished athletes.
Buhain, also a lawmaker from Batangas, added that their ultimate goal is to send more athletes to the Paris Olympics.
“Our objective is to get the highest World Aquatics points through their best performance and get a chance to compete in the Paris Olympics next year. We’re hoping for the best for our swimmers.”
Considered as the face of Philippine swimming in the past several years, Alkhaldi will be competing in the women’s 50-meter freestyle after posting 25.50 seconds as well as in the women’s 100-meter butterfly with one minute and .45 seconds that she recorded when she won the bronze in the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia.
The 21-year-old Chua, who trained in Australia for the SEA Games, is registered to compete in the women’s 400-meter individual medley and 200-meter backstroke after posting a record-breaking 2:13.20 and 4:52.08, respectively.
But all eyes will be on Dela Cruz, who will compete in the women’s 50-meter and 100-meter breaststroke events as well as Hatch (men’s 50-meter and 100-meter butterfly events) and Jacinto (men’s 50-meter and 100-meter backstroke events).
