MANILA, Philippines — Fifty-seven Filipino para athletes are set to journey to Jakarta, Indonesia, this Monday for the 3rd Asian Para Games from October 6 through 13.
The delegation will see action in 10 of 18 events slated in the continental meet, namely archery, athletics, badminton, chess, cycling, judo, powerlifting, table tennis, swimming, and tenpin bowling.
Leading the Philippine contingent are bemedalled para athletes Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta of powerlifting and Josephine Medina of table tennis.
Ancheta holds the record for being the first Filipino to win a medal in the Paralympics after bagging a bronze medal in Sydney, Australia in 2000. Medina, on the other hand, is most remembered for winning a bronze medal in 2016 at the Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Philippine Paralympic Committee president Michael Barredo expressed optimism in the Philippine campaign in Jakarta, saying that the Philippines hopes to improve on its five silvers and five bronzes finish in Incheon, South Korea four years ago.
University of the Philippines’ Francis Carlos Diaz, who will serve as Chef de Mission, said that the Philippine team went through rigorous training to prepare for this regional event. He thanked the Philippine Sports Commission for the generous support that it extended so that Filipino para athletes could compete for the country.
Also donning the Philippine tricolors are Agustina Bantiloc and Giovanni Ola (archery); Prudencia Panaligan, Andy Avellana, Jerrold Pete Mangliwan, Joel Balatucan, Evaristo Carbonel, Jeanette Acebeda, Marites Burce, Arman Dino and Cendy Asusano (athletics); Jonas Matados, Paz Lita and Kathleen Pedrosa (badminton); Sander Severino, Henry Roger Lopez, Jasper Rom, Minandro Redor, Israel Peligro, Arman Subaste, Francis Ching, Rodolfo Sarmiento, Cecilio Bilog, Fe Mangayayam, Jean-lee Nacita and Cheryl Angot (chess); Arthus Bucay and Godfrey Taberna (cycling); Gener Padilla, Deterson Omas and Carlito Agustin (judo); and Achelle Guion, Agustin Kitan, Marydol Pamatian and Romeo Tayawa (powerlifting).
Also joining the campaign are Minnie Cadag, Benedicto Gaela, Pablo Catalan, Darwin Salvacion and Smith Billy Cartera (table tennis); Ernie Gawilan, Gary Bejino, Roland Subido, Arnel Aba and Edwin Villanueva (swimming); and Kim Ian Chi, Samuel Matias, Angelito Guloya, Christopher Yue, Francisco Ednaco, Jaime Manginga, Augusto Hernandez, Crisostomo Yao, Noel Espanol and Ruben San Diego (tenpin bowling).