UB VDTALC Alumnus to Represent PH at Asian Aquatics in India
Boholano bemedalled swimmer Rian Marco A. Tirol, former team captain of the University of Bohol (UB) Swimming Rockets and proud alumnus of the University of Bohol – Victoriano D. Tirol Advanced Learning Center (UB VDTALC), is set to represent the Philippines in the 11th Asian Aquatics Championship (AAC) 2025 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, from September 28 to October 12, 2025. A breaststroke specialist, Tirol holds two Philippine national records, five University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) records, two Palarong Pambansa records, and one Batang Pinoy record. He also previously captained the Ateneo Fast Swimming Team. Currently, he is pursuing his master’s degree in Business Administration at Ateneo de Manila University. Early in his elementary years at UB VDTALC, the young Tirol honed his swimming skills in the institution’s Olympic-size swimming pool, where the sport formed part of the school curriculum. UB VDTALC has long been recognized for producing caliber athletes who have set records at the local, regional, and national levels. Tirol will compete alongside five other elite Filipino swimmers as part of the 10-member Philippine delegation, which also includes divers and artistic swimmers. The official roster was confirmed in a memorandum issued by Philippine Aquatics, Inc. The delegation will be headed by Dick Victor Carmona, with coaching support from Ramil Ilustre (swimming), Xiaofeng Cui and Marie Antoinette Dimanche (diving), and Maria Graciella Jasmina Sanchez (artistic swimming). The Asian Aquatics Championship, held every four years, is a premier continental event featuring swimming, diving, and artistic swimming under the governance of Asia Aquatics and sanctioned by World Aquatics (formerly FINA). Performances will be recorded in the official World Aquatics database, with athletes earning points that contribute to their world rankings. The tournament also serves as a qualification pathway for future international competitions, including the 2026 World Championships and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, ensuring that the best Asian athletes compete on the global stage. (Leo Armando Boncales)
