Pinoy 9-year-old skateboarder places 7th in the Asian Games skateboarding finals

United States-based Filipino skateboard prodigy Mazel Paris Alegado finished seventh in the finals of the Asian Games women's park event in China on Sept. 24.

The 9-year-old Alegado, the youngest athlete in the national team and in the international competition at that, scored 44.46 in her first run and 56.96 in the second to secure her spot.

In an Instagram post on Monday, Sept. 25, the Skateboarding Association of the Philippines congratulated the Filipina skateboarder for her recent feat. "We are so proud of you for representing the Philippines and finishing 7th in the Asian Games 2023 finals for Park Skateboarding! You are an inspiration to us all, and we know that the future is bright for you and Philippine park skateboarding!" it said.

Alegado briefly talked about how she got into the sport in an interview posted on the Asian Games' Facebook page on Sept. 25. "We were at my cousin's house and I saw my brother skateboarding. I was like 'Can I try?' I got on the board and just loved it," she shared.

"I'm so excited, you know? Because I was able to skate in the Asian Games. I just did. So fun!" she said about her win.

Japan’s Hinano Kusaki topped the rounds with 78.06 points, while Indonesia’s Nyimas Cinta placed 8th with 41.30 points.

Another Filipino skateboarder in Jericho Francisco Jr., meanwhile, placed third in the men's park skateboarding finals qualification.

Francisco and Alegado's respective campaigns will be on Sept. 25.

Margielyn Didal, the 2018 Asian Games gold medalist, will also compete in the women's street skateboarding on Sept. 26.

Other Philippine delegates include Renzo Mark Feliciano and Motic Panugalinog for men’s street skateboarding.