First batch of Filipino athletes set forth to Dakar for YOG

Jamesray Michael Ajido and Riannah Chantelle Coleman and wushu
athlete Angel Polo (second to fourth from left) and coaches Jensen Halili, Ramil Ilustre
and Li Jianfang at the Istanbul Airport. POC Media Pool

The first batch of athletes of a lean Team Philippines to the Dakar 4th Youth Olympic Games touched down at dawn Thursday in the Turkish capital after a 13-hour flight from Manila.

Swimmers Jamesray Michael Ajido and Riannah Chantelle Coleman and coaches Jensen Halili and Ramil Ilustre and wushu artist Angel Polo and Chinese coach Li Jianfang were on to an eight-hour layover before boarding a flight to Dakar that will take close to nine hours.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino and secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan and chef de mission Rocky Samsom will be at the YOG Athletes Village to welcome the athletes and coaches.

Ajido and Coleman will be the flag-bearers for Team Philippines in Saturday’s Opening Ceremony, but the duo won’t be completing the ceremony to hit the sack early and be ready for the heats Sunday.

Fortunately, the Opening Ceremony venue, the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium, is just adjacent to the Athletes Village in Diamniadio town, a good 41 kms from Dakar.

Flying to Dakar also via Istanbul on Saturday are gymnastics athletes Hillarion Palles III and Tchelcy Mei Maayo and coaches Reyland Capellan and Kazutaka Hakamada, and on November 4, it will be the turn of cycling’s Maritanya Krog and coaches Mark John Lexer Galedo and Marita Lucas and athletics’ Pi Wangkay and Naomi Cesar and coach Jasper Tanhueco.