SPORTS ADVANCEMENT. Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has vowed to strengthen the sports program of the region as the first-ever BARMM sports meet in Nuro, Upi, Maguindanao culminated on Tuesday (January 21). An estimated 4,000 athletes and coaches (inset) gathered for the Jan. 16-21, 2020 sports event with Maguindanao's second division emerging as the overall champion. (Photos courtesy of MBHTE–BARMM)
COTABATO CITY -- Competing athletes in the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletic Association (BARMMAA) wrapped up Tuesday the weeklong sporting event with Maguindanao second division (Maguindanao II) emerging as the overall champion.
“Maguindanao II is the overall champion in the just concluded regional sports meet both in the elementary and secondary levels,” Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE), said in a statement.
Maguindanao II dominated the first-ever BARMMAA sports meet with a total haul of 31 gold medals at the elementary level, 45 gold medals at the secondary level.
Maguindanao I, meanwhile, placed second overall winner at the elementary level, with 27 gold medals, followed by Sulu with 18 and Tawi-Tawi with 9 to round up the top four players.
In the secondary level, Maguindanao I also bagged second place with 42 gold medals, Lamitan City with 36, and Sulu with 30.
Held at the Nuro Central Elementary School at Nuro, Upi in Maguindanao from January 16-21, the weeklong Palarong BARMMAA had an estimated 4,000 athletes and coaches in attendance.
The athletes competed in archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball, billiards, boxing, chess, football, futsal, Pencak silat, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, and wushu during the sports meet.
BARMMAA delegates consisted of 740 athletes from Maguindanao I; Maguindanao II (581); Lanao Sur I (570); Lanao Sur II (650); Marawi City (450); Lamitan City (347); Basilan (429); Sulu (450); and Tawi-Tawi (532). A total of 536 coaches and officiating staff members accompanied the athletes.
In his closing remarks, Iqbal lauded the victors and vowed the MBHTE will build on the gains of the BARMMAA in preparation for the forthcoming 2020 Palarong Pambansa, slated to take place on May 1- 9, 2020 in Marikina City in the National Capital Region.
"We are committed to providing the necessary support to our coaches and young athletes, as well as strengthen our sports program to encourage future sportsmen and women," Iqbal added. (PNA)
