THE local sporting community is mourning the passing of young Olympian Ian “Yanyan” Lariba, who lost her battle with leukemia late Sunday night. She was 23.
Represented the Philippines in table tennis in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Ms. Lariba was diagnosed with leukemia in May 2017 and underwent surgery in January this year.
Her Olympic stint two years ago was history making as she was the first Filipino athlete to represent the Philippines in table tennis in the Games, the significance of which was not lost to her.
“To qualify for the Olympics is really a privilege and an honor. I’m excited to represent the Philippines and it’s slowly sinking in. I was surprised to have qualified and I’m really working hard and preparing for it so I can give a good showing,” said Ms. Lariba, a native of Cagayan de Oro, in an interview with BusinessWorld at that time.
She went on to say that she was hoping that her Olympic stint would open things for Philippine table tennis and it grows further.
“Table tennis is slowly getting known and for me it’s an inspiration and motivation as I get to show to the whole world that Philippine table tennis can be competitive,” Ms. Lariba said.
When news of her passing came out, De La Salle University, where Ms. Lariba had a stellar collegiate career and got her BS in Management of Financial Institutions degree, expressed sadness and offered prayers to one of its great athletes and her family.
“It is with regret that we announce the death of Ian Lariba, she was a fighter in and out of court, she was truly an inspiration… We pray for her and we give her family our sincere condolences. We will miss you, Yan,” read the Tweet posted on DLSU Sports’ Twitter account.
The Philippine Sports Commission also shared its condolences and underscored the gallant fight Ms. Lariba put up in her battle with leukemia.
The Philippine Table Tennis Federation Inc., meanwhile, in a statement paid tribute to Ms. Lariba.
“With heavy hearts, we mourn the loss of our star, our first-ever Olympian, arguably the greatest Filipina table tennis player of all time Ian Lariba,” the statement opened.
“From her days as a table tennis prodigy, and at such young age winning all of the tournaments she joined, to her storied UAAP career, where she never lost a single match while winning UAAP Athlete of the year twice, to being a constant fixture in the DLSU dean’s list during her playing days, to qualifying for the Olympics, to battling cancer, she was a fighter and true table tennis ambassador and she put table tennis in the newspaper television and social media map, a sport which was not given much importance before in our country. Our sympathies and prayers are with her family,” it added.
While playing in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), she gave La Salle league titles while also being named league most valuable player three times in Seasons 75, 77 and 78 and Athlete of the Year two times (Seasons 77 and 78).
Internationally, apart from the 2016 Olympics, she also represented the Philippines at the Southeast Asian Games, ASEAN University Games and the World Table Tennis Team Championships. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
