BAGUIO City’s junior archers Jemuelle James and Danielle Jasmine Espiritu are setting their preparations this early in the upcoming 2015 Batang Pinoy Luzon Qualifiers in Bulacan next month.
The siblings, eyed as part of the national pool for junior archers, will try to hit the top plum in their respective divisions as the annual sports race for children aged 15-year-old and below kicks off in Malolos July 21-25.
The two under the supervision of father Franklin and archery regional coach John Hongitan are currently setting their daily training at the Baguio City Archery Shooting Range at the Baguio Athletic Bowl.
Jemuelle, a pupil at the Saint Louis Laboratory Elementary School, will compete in the yeoman category while sister Danielle presently with the University of Baguio Laboratory Elementary School will seek honors in the girl’s bowman group.
This will be the first time for Jemuelle to participate in the annual Batang Pinoy as Danielle will try to improve her silver medal finish in the girl’s 30-meter contest back in 2014.
According to Hongitan, the two will be paired with other selections from the Baguio City Archery Club.
“These siblings already filled the slot, while the other selections will come later this month kasi mag-kakaroon pa ng evaluation after that we will be able to screen their partners,” Hongitan said.
“Consistent naman sila sa mga performance nila sa age group nila kaya sigurado they already have their slots and as early as now we are already starting to condition them along with the other archer candidates for the Luzon leg of Batang Pinoy,” Hongitan added.
This year, Team Baguio is eyeing a decent finish in a bid to defend its four-year reign in the national sports competition backed by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission.(Mark Victor Pasagoy)