MANILA, Philippines - Boxing, a sport where the country has the strongest chance of snaring the first Olympic gold medal, is expected to draw most of the attention as it debuts in the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) National Games at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex today.

Over 20,000 spectators including 5,000 athletes from the different regions witnessed the revival of the multi-sports meet for collegiate students last staged six years back at the Rizal Memorial track and field oval, which would soon be turned into a state-of-the-art football stadium.

CHED chair Dr. Emmanuel Angeles, Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping, who is supporting this weeklong meet along with Smart and San Miguel Corp., and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim are throwing their support to the event, which hopes to produce future national team mainstays.

“Our athletes truly represent the cream of the crop of collegiate sports, which is why we believe that the CHED Games will be a breeding ground of future national athletes in international events,” said Angeles, also the new head of the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association.

“We are optimistic from these crop of athletes will emerge our future gold medalists both in the Southeast and Asian Games and perhaps the Olympics,” he added.

Medal-rich athletics and swimming are also expected to grab the spotlight along with baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, football, sepak takraw, softball, volleyball, chess, judo, karatedo, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis and taekwondo.

Some events will be held in other venues like the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Rizal Technological U.

Boxing should be the centerpiece of the CHED Games’ revival since the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines is expected to keenly watch the proceedings hoping to find one or two promising boxers who have the potential to make it big someday.

“We’re always on the watch for talented boxers, we hope to find one in the CHED Games,” said ABAP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio, who also chairs Smart Sports.

Instead of declaring an overall champion, the CHED Games decided to just pinpoint the top individual performers like in track and field and aquatics.

Angeles also expressed his appreciation for President Arroyo’s support for the CHED Games.

“The CHED National Games would not be possible without the support of our President, whose vision is to have an integrated sports development program for the country,” said Angeles.

“The CHED National Games will be the foundation for this goal,” he added.