Mojdeh, White eye 2025 SEAG spots

FILIPINO junior tankers and Batang Pinoy standouts Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh and Heather White aim to make the Philippine national team that will compete in the Thailand Southeast Asian Games next year.

Mojdeh, White eye 2025 SEAG spots

The Philippine national team tryouts for the Southeast Asian Games is set in August.

“I will join the tryouts of the Philippine national team for the Southeast Asian Games and hopefully represent the Philippines in Thailand next year,” said Mojdeh, a Brent International School student.

Mojdeh and White, who won six and seven gold medals, respectively, in Batang Pinoy last December, had just competed in the 11th Asian Age Group Championships from February 26 to 29 at the New Clark City Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac.

The 17-year-old Mojdeh claimed a bronze medal in the girls 15-17 200-meter (m) butterfly event where she registered 2:21.87.

On the other hand, the 16-year-old White pocketed a bronze each in the 100-m freestyle (57.86) and 100-m butterfly (1:03.09).

“I’m trying to aim for the SEA Games, and I know that the Philippines has a SEA Games qualifier in August, so for the next couple of months I’m going to be training really hard for that,” said White, who is half British.

Jamesray Ajido, another Batang Pinoy standout, led the charge for the home team in the Asian meet, winning a historic gold medal in the boys 12-14 100-m butterfly event.

Ajido covered the distance in a new personal, national and meet record of 55.98 seconds to hand the Philippines its first gold medal in the tournament’s swimming history.

Ajido also produced a silver medal in the 50-m butterfly event (25.43) and a bronze in 50-m freestyle (24.34).