Para athletes stay upbeat in Nagoya

NAGOYA – The Philippines continued to stay optimistic despite suffering painful defeats in wheelchair basketball, table tennis and badminton in the 5th Asian Para Games yesterday as it hopes to strike in other sports such as swimming and athletics starting Monday.

The Filipinos, a determined 69-strong contingent, will have a full day to prepare for the coming battles in different fronts hoping to strike gold early and try to meet their target of four to five mints.

For Sunday, Team Philippines will be in attendance for the opening ceremony at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium with taekwondo’s Allain Ganapin and table tennis’ Lhey Marie Manginsay as flag bearers and Francis Diaz as chef-de-mission.

Then it’s off to the races the next day.

“We’re definitely hoping and praying that the tide swings to our favor when swimming and athletics open on Monday,” said Diaz.

With chess’ exclusion from the nine-day meet already dealing a big blow to the Nationals’ campaign, it will now be up to battle-tested tanker Ernie Gawilan to carry most of the load. He is the only remaining gold medalist out of the 10 the country won the last time in Hangzhou, China three years back.

“Gagawin natin lahat para sa bansa,” said a strong-willed Gawilan, who will plunge into action in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 where he copped the gold in Hangzhou and the men’s 200m individual medley SM7 where he had the bronze.

Gawilan will not be alone, though, as there are others who could deliver the goods, too, like another veteran Gary Bejino, a double bronze winner in Hangzhou, and a fast-rising Angel Otom, who is being tipped to come through also at the Rainbow Hall of the Nippon Gaishi Hall.

Over at the Paloma Mizuho Sports Park, expect thrower Alyana Nunez to lead the way along with wheelchair thrower Cendy Asusano, who has lorded over the ASEAN Para Games in the past.

In table tennis at the Sky Hall Toyota, Leo Macalanda succumbed to China’s Chen Chao, 0-3, Wilfred Redulla fell to Thailand’s Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri, 0-3, Lhey Manginsay lost to China’s Mao Jingdian, 0-3, Smith Cartera dropped a 0-3 duel with China’s Peng Zhengyang, and Johna Pena suffered a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat to another Chinese, Wang Rui.