Hopes high for Pinoy bets in Para Games

MANILA, Philippines — Team Philippines is optimistic about its chances of matching or surpassing its previous performance at the Asian Youth Para Games as competition kicks off today in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Milette Bonoan, the country’s chef de mission, acknowledged that the competition has become tougher since the previous edition in Manama, Bahrain, in 2021.

“I hope that our performance will improve from the previous (edition) because the level of competition has increased especially in certain countries. It’s more challenging this time,” she said.

“But our strength is that our athletes are young. Their potential for growth is huge, and that they are very inspired to really win,” she added.

Classification of athletes began last Sunday, and was to run until yesterday, to finalize the start lists for each of the 11 sports to be contested from Wednesday through Sunday.

A total of 48 Filipino para athletes, supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Paralympic Committee, are competing in nine sports – the largest contingent the country has sent so far – with hopes of eclipsing the previous haul of one gold, six silver and two bronze medals.

Hostilities in para athletics, para archery, para swimming, para badminton, wheelchair basketball 3x3, boccia, para table tennis, goalball, and para powerlifting fire off today.