FIFTY-SEVEN athletes from 10 sports will represent the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta from October 6 to 13.
Paralympics bronze medalist Josephine Medina of table tennis, Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta of powerlifting, and Ernie Gawilan of swimming lead the Filipino athletes flying the flag in the quadrennial showpiece.
Medina won a bronze in both the 2014 Asian Para Games and the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro while Dumapong-Ancheta, the first-ever medalist in the Paralympics in 2000, recently captured a bronze in the World Para Powerlifting Championship.
Gawilan, meanwhile, is returning to the quadrennial meet after capturing three bronze medals in the 2014 Asian Para Games.
Aside from table tennis, powerlifting, and swimming, the Philippines is also represented in archery, athletics, badminton, chess, cycling, judo, and tenpin bowling.
Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo said the delegation is aiming to improve on their five-silver, five-bronze tally in the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon.
“Being a very world-class and high-level competition, our target is to do better than in the Korea Asian Para Games four years ago,” said Barredo. “We were in 24th, we hope to do better.”
Chef de mission Kiko Diaz believes a gold medal is achievable.
“The commitment of each athlete, coach, and official now is to improve on that (2014 output). Hopefully, we get that first gold medal in the Asian Para Games kasi individually, this is something that all athletes aspire for,” Diaz said.
“Definitely, everything is achievable. Nothing is impossible. Nasa mindset na ng mga atleta natin ‘yan,” Diaz added.
More than 3,500 athletes are set to compete in the Asian Para Games with the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium serving as the main hub.
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