Swimmer Ajido, wushu bet Polo open Team PH’s account in Youth Olympics

MANILA — Jamesray Mishael Ajido plunges into action in swimming and Angel Polo brings her young act in wushu as competitions in the 4th Youth Olympic Games officially open on Sunday.

Ajido swims in the third of four heats for the men’s 100 meters butterfly at 10:54 a.m. (6:54 p.m. in Manila) at the Complexe Tour de l’Ceuf pool.

Meanwhile, Polo vies for a final 8 seat against 10 opponents in the preliminary round of women’s Taijishian at the Diamniadio Expo Centre starting at 10:12 a.m. (6:12 p.m. in Manila).

“I hope to do my best here, because these are the YOG and it’s already a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be here,” said Ajido, 17, and an 11th grader at Homeschool Global. “I trained very hard for months for this.”

It would be a swim against the tide for Ajido—silver medalist at the 2024 Southeast Asian age-group championships and a Palarong Pambansa record holder—in the event where 31 swimmers will be targeting the eight berths in the final scheduled 3:32 p.m. (Dakar time) also on Sunday.

Polo, who’ll turn 16 this December 21, brings with her a bronze accomplishment at the 10th World  junior championships in Tanjin, China, last March—on the YOG mat where she’ll be facing 11 opponents in the traditional Chinese martial art.

On Monday, Polo will again compete in the women’s Taijiquann preliminaries and it will be Riannah Chantelle Coleman’s turn in the pool in the women’s 200 meters breaststroke heats.

The wushu finals are scheduled Monday.

“We know that our young athletes have prepared themselves for these YOG and we’re hoping for the best results,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino.

The Youth Olympic Games officially opened on Saturday night in Dakar, with International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry and Senegal  President Bassirou Diomaye Faye declaring the Games open at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio.