PH eyes medal haul in Asian Para Games with 69-strong delegation

MANILA, October 18 ------ The Philippines will bank on a 69-athlete delegation competing in 11 sports to deliver a strong campaign in the upcoming Asian Para Games starting today Oct. 18 to 24 in Nagoya, Japan.

Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo expressed confidence in the national team. "I told the athletes what's important is that they do their best to go for gold and make sure that they fight all the way," Barredo said.

The Philippines secured 19 medals in the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, including 10 gold medals, eight of which came from chess. "They made sure chess is not included because we will surely win. But I pushed for it. Pinilit natin," said Barredo. "But we will make up for that."

With the sport absent from the upcoming edition, the delegation will look to other disciplines to sustain the country's medal campaign. The national team will compete in para taekwondo, swimming, athletics, table tennis, cycling, fencing, judo, 3x3 basketball and archery, among other events across its 11 sports.

Among the Filipino bets are para taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin and para table tennis player Lhey Marie Manginsay. Beyond the upcoming competition, Barredo highlighted the need to strengthen grassroots para sports programs through more regular national competitions and sustained government support. "I'm hoping that there will be more Filipino people with disabilities who will engage or involve themselves in sports. The more awareness we create, the more help," Barredo said. He stressed that sports can offer more than opportunities to represent the country and also called on the media to help raise awareness and encourage more Filipinos with disabilities to participate in sports.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com