A 136-member Team Philippines will compete in 16 of the 23 sports at the Third Asian Youth Games, scheduled Oct. 22–31 in Manama, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced. Boxer Leo Mhar Lobrido and volleyball player Harlyn Serneche will carry the national flag during the opening ceremony at Exhibition World Bahrain.

“We’ll field a compact team of promising athletes who are all potentially our future Olympic, world and regional champions,” Tolentino said, adding that the target is to match or surpass the two gold medals and three silver medals the Philippines won at Nanjing 2013. “We believe somebody from our 136 athletes will rise to the occasion to make a name for himself or herself.”

Leaders express confidence in young athletes

Lobrido, who turns 16 on Oct. 10, won gold in the boys’ 46–48 kg division at the Greater Bay Area Youth Boxing Challenge in Shenzhen last December. Serneche, a standout for Nazareth High School of National University, is among the delegation’s top prospects in volleyball.

Ramon “Tats” Suzara, president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and the Asian Volleyball Confederation, will serve as chef de mission. The Filipino athletes will compete in volleyball, teqball, golf, triathlon, mixed martial arts, taekwondo, Muay Thai, athletics, boxing, cycling, weightlifting, table tennis, badminton, wrestling, aquatics and jiu-jitsu.

Organizers expect about 4,000 athletes from 45 Asian nations to take part in some 223 events. Tolentino said the Games will be an important development step for the country’s youth pipeline, offering international exposure and competitive experience that can accelerate athlete development.