Philippines Paralympic bets raring to battle

MANILA, Philippines — Wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan and discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda are undaunted by the elite opposition they will be up against in their respective events in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

Mangliwan, who was the Philippine contingent’s standard-bearer during the opening ceremonies at the Japan National Stadium Tuesday night, will be the first to see action on Friday in the T52 men’s 400-meter race, with the heats scheduled in the morning and the finals in the evening.

The entire Philippine team remains focused in their quest despite the decimation of its roster due to COVID-19.

The country’s six-strong lineup is now down to five with powerlifter Achele Guion testing positive for the virus.

Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) president Mike Barredo said Guion’s coach Antonio Taguibao, chef-de-mission Francis Diaz and para athletics mentor Joel Deriada also tested positive and thus failed to make it to Tokyo.

“Jinky (Guion) is deeply frustrated that she will not be able to compete in  her powerlifting event for her country after training for so long, and especially getting much inspiration from Hidilyn Diaz, a powerlifter like herself and the first Filipino to win an Olympic gold medal,” said Barredo in a statement.

Guion, a 2012 London Games veteran, was supposed to see action tomorrow in the women’s -45-kilogram division.