LAILANI Velasco was recently given a fresh mandate as Philippine Swimming, Inc. chairman and president and vowed to target qualifying more tankers to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Our vision is more qualifiers in international events especially the Olympics,” Ms. Velasco told The STAR after getting elected for another four-year term in polls done at the New Coast Hotel Manila on Monday.
Also elected were Antoinette Mendoza as secretary, Vero Paloma as treasurer and Edgardo Lora, Conreylito Dalisay, Sherwyn Santiago and Jefferson Lao as members of the board of trustees in polls attended by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chairman Steve Hontiveros and POC membership and accreditation of commission chairman Atty. Avelino Sumagui.
Under Ms. Velasco, the country qualified two bets to the Tokyo Games in Luke Gebbie and Remedy Rule and ended a decade-long golden drought in the Southeast Asian Games thanks to a golden effort of James Daiparine in the 2019 edition at the New Clark Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac.
While they aim to improve, if not match, their 1-6-9 (gold-silver-bronze) medal effort in Capas when they plunge into action in the Hanoi Games set on May 12 to 23, Ms. Velasco said she is also focused in improving aquatics’ five other disciplines including diving and water polo.
“We also want healthy participation from all five disciplines and make all teams actively involved,” said Ms. Velasco.