The Mimaropa Regional Athletic Association Meet concluded in Romblon, Romblon last Friday, May 26, and the delegates from Oriental Mindoro made their presence felt with a haul of victories.

The Taekwondo team from Oriental Mindoro clinched three trophies, earning the title of Champion in Elementary Boys, Elementary Girls, and Secondary Girls categories.

In the Arnis event, the team was crowned Overall Champions in the Secondary Boys category, a testament to their impressive talent and rigorous training. In addition to Thursday’s eight-medal haul, the Secondary Team continued to impress, reigning supreme in a variety of individual and team events.

The prowess of the arnisadors wasn’t restricted to the Secondary Boys category, as they also earned the title of Overall Champions in the Arnis Elementary Boys and Girls categories, under the guidance of their coaches Sir Jezreel O. Tandoy and Mam Joycie A. De Belen.

Oriental Mindoro’s badminton teams also brought home medals. Alexis Faith delos Reyes and Tyrece Delos Reyes clinched silver medals in the Badminton Girls Doubles – Elementary, under the tutelage of coach Frenli Niqui Villanueva. Meanwhile, Clyde Jeidmon Aguho and Macwayne De Castro bagged a bronze medal in the Badminton Elementary Boys Doubles category.

Not to be outdone, Isah Loraine Delin and Kirtley Shan Milar, the OrMin hitters, secured a bronze medal in Badminton Girls Secondary Double.

In the game of Chess, the provincial delegates demonstrated their strategic brilliance. After impressive wins in the Chess Blitz event, Team OrMin secured first places in both the secondary boys and girls categories in Chess Standards. The victorious chess players include gold medalists Kim Jastin B. Tan and Deyna T. Bodota, and bronze medalist Alan Jr. A. Laylay. These wins have advanced them to the Palarong Pambansa.

In the Sepak Takraw event, Team Santelmo captured a bronze in Best Regu, with Gerson Clarette N. Bulusan, John Reymar L. Obias, Jay-r M. Madrid, Michael II A. Mindo, and Kirdy F. Manalo, under the guidance of coach Edrian S. Sapul and assistant coach Ryan G. Gadon.

In table tennis, Xyra Malaluan and John Joshua A. Delgado clinched gold in Table Tennis Singles in the Elementary Girls and Boys categories, respectively. This impressive feat secured their tickets to the Palarong Pambansa. Under the mentorship of their coaches, Mrs. MaryJoy Quinto and Mr. Albert Goco, they are now preparing for the next level of competition.

The victories by the Oriental Mindoro delegation in this year’s MRAA Meet attest to the exceptional talent and rigorous training of their athletes. The teams are now gearing up to represent the region in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa 2023.