Ambassador Millicent Cruz Paredes (middle), with some of the Philippine athletes, coaches and parents at the Opening Ceremony of the 5th Asian Open Schools Invitational (AOSI 2025) Swimming Championships (Photo Courtesy of Global Aquatics)
BANGKOK, 13 FEBRUARY 2025 – The Philippines emerged as a formidable contender during the 5th Asian Open Schools Invitational (AOSI 2025) Swimming Championships held at the Aquatics Center, Assumption University Suvarnabhumi Campus in Bangkok. The competition, which ran from 6 to 9 February 2025, gathered over 1,150 athletes from 18 countries, including an impressive contingent of 331 swimmers representing the Philippines.
The Philippine teams clinched two of the top five slots. The National Academy of Sports (NAS) bagged 2nd Runner-up in the overall team rankings, while Lemmoda Aqua Gliders from Region 10 Bukidnon placed 3rd Runner-up. Additionally, NAS garnered the highest points and dominated the Average Points Category, highlighting the depth of the talent of Filipino swimmers in the international stage.
Ambassador Millicent Cruz Paredes attended the opening ceremony where she met Ms. Joy Reyes, Executive Director of the National Academy of Sports of the Philippines, along with esteemed coaches and Filipino athletes competing in the championship. The Ambassador expressed her pride in the Philippine delegation, recognizing their dedication and perseverance in bringing honor to the country through sports.
Organized by the Global Aquatics, under the supervision of the Royal Thai Air Force Club and sanctioned by the Thailand Aquatics Association (TAA), AOSI 2025 aims to foster sportsmanship, cultural unity, and international collaboration among young athletes. The competition adheres to the official World Aquatics Rules and Regulations, ensuring that race statistics are certified by TAA. The championship not only provides a platform for outstanding swimmers to showcase their talents but also promotes inclusivity and cultural exchange in the region.
The Philippine Embassy in Thailand commends the Filipino athletes, coaches, and organizers for their dedication and commitment to excellence. The Embassy remains steadfast in its support for Filipino athletes who are competing internationally, given the significant role of sports in strengthening diplomatic and cultural ties. END
Ambassador Millicent Cruz Paredes (seated, 9th from the right) joins fellow diplomats, competition officials, coaches, and athletes at the opening ceremony of the 5th Asian Open Schools Invitational (AOSI 2025) Swimming Championships in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo Courtesy of Global Aquatics)
(from left to right) H.E. Mrs. Edirisinghe Arachchilage Sriyani Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to Thailand, Ambassador Millicent Cruz Paredes, and Mr. Chanaka Fernando, CEO of Global Aquatics and the Event Director for AOSI 2025 (Photo Courtesy of Global Aquatics)
The National Academy of Sports Team declared as the Champions for the newly introduced category by average points, garnering 98.20 (Photo Courtesy of Global Aquatics)
