Josephine Medina is expected to lead the Philippines in the 2020 ASEAN Para Games. File/Handout photo
MANILA Philippines -- The country’s para-athletes will be gunning for its best finish in the upcoming 10th ASEAN Para Games (APG) which will be hosted by the Philippines from March 20 to 28.
In the 2017 edition held in Kuala Lumpur, the Philippines tallied its best record so far with 20 gold, 20 silver, and 29 bronze medals, which is good for fifth place.
“Basta ang commitment natin, we will try to improve our last finish in the ASEAN Para Games. Kung maging No. 4 tayo, that’s an improvement already. Kung No. 3, mas maganda. So siyempre, we will aspire for a podium finish,” Team Philippines chef de mission Francis Diaz said.
The Philippines will send 250 para-athletes, including over 80 officials, for the largest multisport event for the differently abled athletes in Southeast Asia.
Sixteen regular sports (archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, bowling, chess, cycling, 7-a-side CP football, goalball, judo, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, triathlon, wheelchair basketball) and one demonstration sport (para obstacle course) will be played in this year’s APG.
Diaz said Filipino para-athletes have been receiving support from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
“Si chairman (Butch) Ramirez, palagi niyang sinasabi na he has a soft spot in his heart para sa mga para-athletes natin. And he truly inspires our para-athletes for what he does in PSC,” Diaz said.
With the PSC’s support, Pinay table tennis Paralympian Josephine Medina won a gold medal at the 2019 ITTF Para Bangkok Open in Thailand and was behind the historic 10 golds, 8 silvers and 11 bronze medals of the national para team at 2018 Asian Para Games in Indonesia where all the medalists received a total of P16.2-million cash incentive from the agency.
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