NCAA adds four Olympic sports in Season 101 to boost grassroots development

As the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) enters its 101st season, the country’s premier collegiate league is taking a significant leap forward by officially incorporating four new Olympic sports into its program: gymnastics, weightlifting, boxing, and golf.

This historic move aligns with the NCAA’s renewed commitment to grassroots sports development, aiming to serve as a fertile training ground for the next generation of Filipino athletes who could represent the country on the global stage.

In a press briefing during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum held Tuesday, September 30, NCAA Management Committee member and Emilio Aguinaldo College representative Dr. Jose Paulo Campos announced the NCAA’s partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to ensure the successful integration and development of these new sports disciplines.

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“The NCAA and PSC have entered into a partnership to help train and develop grassroots athletes in these disciplines,” said Campos. “We believe that by introducing these Olympic sports at the collegiate level, we can identify and nurture young talents who have the potential to bring pride to the country.”

The inclusion of gymnastics, weightlifting, boxing, and golf is not arbitrary. These sports have brought considerable international acclaim to the Philippines in recent years and are seen as critical to the country’s continued success on the Olympic stage.

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Weightlifting made history when Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games, triumphing in the women’s 55-kg category. Gymnastics followed suit with Carlos Yulo etching his name in history by capturing two gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, solidifying his status as a national icon and inspiring a new generation of gymnasts.

Boxing, a long-standing source of Filipino pride, has delivered numerous Olympic medals, while golf continues to rise in popularity thanks to the success of young Filipino golfers making waves both in amateur and professional circuits.

Jose Rizal University athletic director Paul Supan emphasized that under NCAA regulations, any demonstration sport played for three consecutive seasons may be elevated to regular sport status—provided it meets specific criteria such as sustained participation and organizational readiness.

“We’re hoping these sports will gain enough traction to be recognized as regular NCAA events in the near future,” said Supan. “There’s genuine excitement among our member schools about the possibilities these sports offer.”

The excitement doesn’t stop with the addition of new sports. NCAA Season 101 officially kicks off on Wednesday, October 1, with the highly anticipated seniors basketball tournament, the league’s centerpiece event. The opening ceremony and double-header will take place at the iconic Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The first game will feature Mapua University taking on Lyceum of the Philippines University, followed by a clash between College of Saint Benilde and perennial powerhouse San Beda University. Basketball remains the league’s biggest crowd drawer, and this season promises another thrilling campaign as teams vie for collegiate supremacy.

With its expanding portfolio of sports and a renewed focus on long-term athlete development, the NCAA continues to cement its role not only as a cradle of champions but also as a key player in shaping the future of Philippine sports.

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