HERE’S good news to  local swimming.

The  Philippine   Sports  Commission  (PSC)  has agreed  to  support the  Federation of School  Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP) and the  Philippine   Swimming  League (PSL)  in the  staging of  the  All-Star University  Swimming Challenge  starting with the kickoff  leg on  March 17-18.

PSC chairman Richie Garcia  finalized  the  agreement with PSL, headed by chairman  and former Sen. Nikki Coseteng  and president Susan Papa, and FESSAP, led by newly-inducted president   David Ong.

PSL is the  local  swimming association recognized by the FESSAP, the country’s govenring  body for university sports recognized  by FISU or the  International University Sports Federation.

“We  (FESSAP and PSL)  would like to thank Chairman Garcia  and the  PSC  board  for  approving  and supporting  our  swimming circuit and allowing  us to  use the  Rizal   Memorial  Sports Complex again,” said Coseteng.

Added  Coseteng: “The  PSC  can  count on us to help turn the tide in swimming. This  new  partnership among PSC, FESSAP and PSL will  help nurture the dreams of  many talented local swimmers. As they say, the journey of a   thousand  miles begins with the first step.”

Coseteng, said  the  swimming circuit will include competitions on March 17-18, May 19-20, Aug. 11-12 and Nov. 24-25.

The  four-part competition  will  also  serve  as qualifying  stages for the   Philippine  team  competing in  the   World  Universiade scheduled in  Khazan, Russia next year.

“Last year, the Philippines, through FESSAP, sent a small but talented  Filipino  delegation  to the  Universiade held in Shenzhen, China. Filipino  swimmers  were  able to compete against   the  world’s best  even  without government support,” said Coseteng.

“Now with the  PSC’s support, we expect to perform better in the next  Universiade,” added Coseteng.

Papa, on the other  hand, said the PSL is now opening its door to all talented Filipino swimmers  to try and compete for this rare opportunity to represent the country in next year’s Universiade.

“These  swimmers  might not be able to compete in  the Olympics, the Asian  Games or even the  Southeast Asian Games. But  they can  now  try their luck in the Universiade,” said Papa.

Papa  said    outstanding   male and female   swimmers who  will earn  the  right  to compete in the  Universiade   will be given the proper training  and equipment  before  “testing the waters in  Russia.”

Last  year,  taekwondo  champion  Samuel Thomas Harper Morrison  of   Far  Eastern  University made  the country proud by winning the  silver medal.

The   21-year-old  Morrison,  who rose  to prominence by winning the  gold medal in the 2010 Korea Open, swept his first  four assignments   before losing  5-9  to  Kim Hun of  South Korea in their gold medal match in the men’s -68 kg event

Significantly, only 65 countries, including  the Philippines, won at least a  medal.

Aside  from  swimming  and  taekwondo, FESSAP also  sent  athletes  in  basketball, archery, table tennis, badminton, chess,  beach  volleyball and  athletics  during the  26th   Summer Universiade   in    Shenzhen, China last Aug. 12-23.