By REYNALD MAGALLON
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – A sprawling city that takes pride in its nickname as the Home of the Champions, the streets of GenSan have honed the toughness and grit of many Filipino sporting greats through the years including boxing’s only eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao.
Now, it will provide the breeding ground for the young and brimming potential of the youth to become the future of the Philippines Sports.
The 2025 Batang Pinoy, primed to be the best and biggest ever, formally fires off when the competition begins on Sunday, Oct. 26 at the Antonio Acharon Sports Complex with
Following the warm and festive welcome during the opening ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 25, hostilities kick off even before the sun rises with the centerpiece sport athletics and 13 of the 26 other events commencing on the first day of the competitions.
A total of 14 gold medals are already up for grabs in the medal-rich athletics which will begin at 6:30 a.m. while swimming will begin with the 200m individual medley in the mixed age group 12 to 17 also at the Antonio Acharon Sports Complex.
The freestyle and backstroke races for 12-13, 14-15 and 16-17 age will also happen throughout the day.
The preliminary round of badminton, 3×3 basketball, boxing and chess also simultaneously open their competitions in venues across the city. Wrestling, Judo, Muay Thai and Karatedo and Wushu likewise kick off their respective tournaments.
A total of 12 gold is also at stake in cycling with six in the cross country mountain bike at Brgy. Tambler Kalatao – Don Ricardo’s Chocolate factory while the other six are offered in road biking races at the General Santos City Circumferential Road.
Four golds will also be up for grabs in the weightlifting competitions at the Barangay Labangal Gymnasium where first Olympic medalist Hidilyn Diaz is expected to attend.
Pasig City, which captured 105 golds, 64 silvers and 116 bronzes in last year’s edition in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.
Four-time champion Baguio City, which is now looking to reclaim its crown after settling for a bridesmaid finish last year with 92 golds, 72 silvers and 89 bronzes.
The host city, meanwhile, is aiming to improve its fifth place finish last year where it claimd 36 golds, 30 silvers and 40 bronzes to place behind Quezon City (59-55-53) and Davao City (39-44-37).
