ADELINE Dumapong Ancheta, one of the most decorated Paraathletes in the country, is hungry to prove herself more in the 3rd Asian Para Games from October 6 to 13 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The first Filipina Paralympian powerlifter to win a Paralympics medal, having claimed a bronze finish in the 2000 Sydney Games, has done a lot of achievements for the country in the Southeast Asian and Asian levels as well as other international competitions.
Despite all of her accolades, sky is still the limit for Ancheta, who continues to strive for greatness.
“Masasabi nga nila, I have proven myself in all levels of competition - Asean level, Asian level and the paralympic games,” said the 44-year-old powerlifter from Kiangan, Ifugao.
“Kapag atleta, di ka dapat humihinto; alam mo dapat sa sarili o na you’re only as good as your last medal. So you just don’t rest on it, keep pushing yourself to better the last result,” she added.
And the back-to-back silver medalist in 2010 Guangzhou and 2014 Incheon Games is gunning for no less than the first gold medal of the country in this edition of Asian Paragames.
“Competition is to win a medal sana gold medal sabi mga nila we always look for the best result,” Ancheta said. “Kung umpisa pa lang wala na pupunta ako dun just to participate, I don’t think ‘yun ang gusto, I don’t think it’s fair to the Filipino people na samin manggagaling. ‘Yung pag suporta para samin, nagpunta kami, ako personally pupunta ako kasi gusto ko manalo.”
The five-time Asean Para Games gold medalist and two-time silver winner who has been participating since 2001 is happy with the support given to the Filipino paraathletes nowadays, which makes her more inspired in their upcoming Asiad stint.
“The funds were coming from the PCSO; dati ang pagtingin sa sports ng mga may kapansanan ay charity,” Ancheta said. “Pero fast forward sa ngayon eto na sinusuportahan na ng malaki ng PSC, may batas ngayon na nagbibigay insentibo sa medlalyang makukuha ng athletes na may kapansanan.”
“We’ve come a long way and I am very very lucky na nakita ko ang pagbabagong yun and naging parte ako nung pagkakaroon ng victory ng Para sports sa Philippines,” she added. “Everything can be better but we are grateful for what we have now and we’re looking forward doon kasi ang iniisip ko, naniniwala ako na you have so much to be thankful now and it’s exciting times for the para sports here in the Philippines.
Ancheta just wishes the best for her fellow 57 paraathletes from 10 sports that will complete starting this Saturday and fight for the country’s pride.
“Para sa mga kasama kong magcocompete sa Asian Para Games, laban lang ipakita natin na karapatdapat tayo sa suporta na pinapakita sa atin at patunayan antin sa sarili natin at sa sambayanang Pilipino na kaya natin,” she concluded.
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