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    Ex-Letran player turned champion runner now eyes Tokyo Paralympics glory

    Bagsit played well enough to join Kevin Alas and Terrence Romeo at Letran even if he was visually impaired
    Aug 4, 2020
    PHOTO: Dante Peralta

    ARCHAND Bagsit won three Southeast Asian Games gold medals during his Philippine team career in athletics. Now, he is looking to qualify and represent the country once again, but this time, in the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

    Bagsit captured two 4x400-meter relay gold medals in 2011 and 2013, the same year that he also ruled the 400-meter run individual event – winning it all despite being visually impaired. After seven years in the national athletics team, Bagsit is now back in the Philippine squad but this time as a para-athlete, with officials of the Philippine Paralympic Committee planning big things for Bagsit.

    The 29-year-old Bagsit was supposed to compete for the Philippines in the 2020 Asean Para Games but it was cancelled due to the coronavirus. He was also being eyed to see action in qualifying meets for the Tokyo Paralympic Games, which just like the Olympics, were postponed to 2021.

    “’Yun ‘yung first step po namin para makapaglaro din po ng Para,” said Bagsit, referring to the cancelled Asean Para Games.

    Despite the cancellation of the Asean Para Games and the postponement of the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Bagsit said his coaches are now gearing up for 2021 where qualifying competitions for the Paralympics, hopefully, will resume.

    “Maganda na po oras ko. Ready na ako sa Asean Para kaso pandemic, na-cancel. Sa ngayon, ginagawa ko ang paraan para mag-stay fit lang. Ang sabi sa akin ng mga coaches ko, early next year, may competition na ako para sa qualifying. Pinaghahandaan ko po hanggang ngayon. Gumagawa ako ng mga alternative workout na para mag-stay fit ako. Sa ngayon, hindi ko pa alam kung kailan ako makapag-training sa Ultra,” said Bagsit.

    Bagsit may be one of the first Filipino para-athletes who have previously competed with athletes without disability. Interestingly, Bagsit said he never knew that there are sports events for PWD athletes like him.

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    “Since bata pa po ako, may visual impairment na ako,” Bagsit said. “Hindi ko pa po kasi alam ‘yung mga Asean Paragames, Paralympics. Ang alam ko lang po dati, SEA Games, Asian Games.

    At the end of his stint as a national athlete, Bagsit went on a sabbatical in athletics and worked at a fitness center. Last year, he was recruited to return to the national team but this time as a para-athlete.

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    “Nung nawala ako sa pagiging regular athlete, meron pong isang coach na nasa para-athletes [naka-assign] na nagtanong sa akin kung ano ang kalagayan ko. Sabi nila, 'Puwede ka rito, wala namang pagkakaiba.' Sabi ko, ita-try ko,” said Bagsit.

    Bagsit competed for the first time as a para-athlete in the 2019 Philippine National Games where he was given a T12 classification for athletes with partial eye sight impairment.

    “Sabi nila, try mo magpa-classify. Kung ma-classify ka, pasok ka na sa amin. Willing naman ako, sabi ko. Walang masama kung susubukan kasi may disability ako. Nung nagpa-classify na ako, nakapasok na ako at nakapaglaro na ako doon,” said Bagsit.

    Bagsit never made his eyesight problems affect his performance in sports. Bagsit was actually a two-sport star in high school, playing for the Letran Squires as a basketball player from 2004 to 2008 and playing alongside the likes of now-PBA stars Terrence Romeo and Kevin Alas before being a trackster in his final year in high school.

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    He was again a two-sport athlete when he started in college in 2008 although he was only part of Letran’s Team B in basketball.

    Due to his condition, Bagsit can only see from a very short distance. Shooting the basketball was especially tough particularly from three-point range. Being the guard of the team also posed a different challenge for Bagsit.

    “Blurred. Tsambahan. Pero nakaka-shoot. Lay-up, medyo okay naman kasi nadadaan ko sa speed ko,” said Bagsit when asked about his aim when taking a shot.

    “Ako po kasi talagang bahala na. Basketball, first love. Kung ano ang kaya, pag gusto, may paraan,” he added.

    Bagsit also explained the difficulty of competing in the relays in athletics where he tries to make sure to be the anchor or the last runner in the team event.

    “Nung naglalaro ako sa regular, mahirap pag team event like relay. Ginagawa ko lahat ng paraan para maging last runner ako para mag-aabot lang ako ng baton,” said Bagsit.

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    "[Kapag hindi ako last runner] ang nangyayari, hindi ko muna pinapasa. Didikit at didikit muna ako, irerecognize muna sila. Tinatantsa na lang, tsambahan na lang, bahala na,” said Bagsit.

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    Despite the challenges, Bagsit made it to the national team in 2010 and became one of the most successful athletes in SEA Games athletics. He also won silver and bronze medals along the way until his final stint in the biennial meet in Malaysia in 2017.

    Bagsit said the competitiveness of his fellow para-athletes and desire and pride to represent the country in international meets are no different from their counterparts who are not differently-abled.

    “Nung nalaman ko, sobrang high din talaga. Sobrang competitive din talaga sila. Hindi sila basta-basta. Kaya talagang sabi ko, meron din para sa amin,” said Bagsit.

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      Now that he is a full-fledged para-athlete, Bagsit is also motivated than ever to make the country proud once again but on a different field.

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      “Siguro malaking achievement sa akin ‘yun,” said Bagsit, when asked what he would feel if he qualifies for the Paralympic Games. “Hindi Olympics pero Paralympic is the same ‘yan. Ang goal ko, Olympics na po ‘yan, hindi ‘yan basta basta. Kung kaya ko mag-bring ng honor o kumuha ng kahit isa man lang gold sa event ko, I will do my best. Bilang athlete, aim namin ‘yang ganyan. Once in a lifetime opportunity kaya i-gagrab ko na talaga ‘yan.”

      “Ang sarap po kasi nagpapakilala rin ang Pilipinas na may athletes na kayang mag-compete sa mga higher level. Ang sarap ng pakiramdam na nagbibigay ka ng karangalan at ma-recognize ka bilang athlete,” he added.
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      PHOTO: Dante Peralta
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