BATANG Pinoy national champion Baguio City will have its hands full when it opens its campaign in the Luzon leg set on October 22 to 29 in Vigan City.

City sports development officer Gaudencio Gonzales said close to 400 athletes are currently in the thick of training as it vows to clinch the crown against power house Quezon City, Manila, and other local government units from Regions Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa.

During the national finals held in Tagum City last year, the Summer Capital took home 55 gold medals including 41 silver and 41 bronze medal besting Cebu City with 43-31-32 and Davao City (35-44-65).

The feat earned Baguio City a P500,000 incentive coming from the hilippine Sports Commission as a way recognizing the LGU's efforts in becoming partners for sports development.

Batang Pinoy is a grassroots-based sports undertaking by the Philippine Sports Commission which aims to widen the base in the selection of potential athletes for national and international competitions.

The sports events will be participated by athletes from two age groups: the Under 13 and 13 to 15 years old.

The event aims to develop and promote sports through sports programs instilling teamwork, self-discipline and excellence in athletes, said Oprania.

Events include archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, chess, cycling, karatedo, sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, taekwando, tennis, volleyball, wrestling and wushu.

Baguio City will pin its medal hopes in combat sports such as wushu, taekwondo, arnis, wrestling, including archery and athletics. (Roderick Osis)