TAGAYTAY CITY — Veteran Jasmine Alkhaldi is looking forward to swim with Filipino-Canadian Kayla Sanchez in the 19th Asian Games from 23 September to 8 October in Hangzhou, China.

The 29-year-old Alkhaldi said she is excited to team up with Sanchez, the 22-year-old recruit who won a silver medal in the women's 4×100 freestyle relay event of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Alkhaldi, who took home four silver and three bronze medals in the previous 32nd Southeast Asian Games, said swimming with Sanchez in the relay squad will do wonders for the country in the prestigious continental meet.

"I think our relay team is going to be really good. I want to focus on these events because any event that can win our country the medal, that's what I will do," Alkhaldi said during the Asian Games fun run yesterday.

"She's got really amazing experience, already being a Tokyo Olympics silver medalist. I think I am open to helping her out with the Filipino culture but in the swimming world, she's got it covered."

Sanchez is currently completing a one-year residency in accordance to the eligibility rules of the World Aquatic before representing the Philippines.

The Filipino swimmers are expected to have a great showing in the Asiad after a promising performance in the previous SEA Games in Cambodia, where they cornered two gold, six silver and eight bronze medals.

SEA Games gold medalists Teia Salvino and Xiandi Chua are also expected to join Sanchez and Alkhaldi in the Asian Games as well as 30th SEA Games gold medalist Chloe Isleta.

Alkhaldi said she will still keep training and will not get too confident in her chances of making it to the national team.

"It's usually the medalists that join so we have an idea who will join but you can't be sure unless it's already written on paper," Alkhaldi said.

"We're hopeful that we will have a good team to send there."