Tagaytay city: More than 350 foreign delegates are set to arrive in the Philippines for the 10th Senior Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships, taking place from August 4-7 at the Tagaytay City Velodrome. Athletes from leading nations, including Vietnam, Japan, Korea, India, Mongolia, Cambodia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, and the host country, will compete across various categories such as individual men's and women's events, mixed pairs, trios, groups, aerobic dance, and aerobic steps.
According to Philippines News Agency, India will have the largest contingent with 50 entries, followed by Vietnam with 45, and the Philippines with 43 athletes. The four-day event, organized by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) and presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), will feature youth, junior, and senior categories, ranging from ages 12 to 18 and above.
GAP President Cynthia Carrion expressed excitement about hosting the event, stating, "We have wanted to stage this event for some time, and we are proud to say that we finally have it. Aerobics is not only an exercise. It is also a competition." Carrion made these remarks during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at the PSC media room inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila. She was accompanied by GAP Secretary-General Rowena Eusuya.
Carrion tempered expectations about the country's performance, acknowledging the formidable competition, but noted that Arcenio Cadios and Charmaine Dolar are strong medal contenders. The duo previously secured a silver medal in the mixed pairs event at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok. Carrion also highlighted the potential of Charmaine Dolar in the women's individual event and the women's trios, featuring siblings Dorothy Grace and Danielle Grade alongside Princess Johana Pama.
The upcoming championship marks the second major international event organized by GAP and the PSC within nine months, following the Junior World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in November. Tagaytay City, under the leadership of Mayor Brent Tolentino and Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino, is prepared to host and impress the visiting delegates.
Carrion emphasized the broader impact of the event, stating, "Through this Championship, I believe that the city locals and the whole nation are one in bringing Asian sport to new heights and inspire all Asian athletes to celebrate discipline and push their boundaries of excellence." She added, "Sports unites people. Sports is like music. Memories come back. This is also in line with PSC chairman's thrust in hosting international sporting events to boost sports tourism."
