Filipino paralympic athletes eye better result in Asian Games

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine team sets out to surpass, if not replicate, its 10-gold, 11th-place performance in the last Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia five years ago as it goes up against the best in the region in the Hangzhou, China edition set October 22-28.

The first batch of the 176-strong delegation, which is mostly composed of the proud and determined chess squad, left the country Monday with a stopover from Hong Kong before proceeding straight to Hangzhou.

There, the Filipinos hope to eclipse, if not match, their 10-gold, eight-silver and 11-bronze medal haul in Jakarta where they finished a strong 11th out of 43 countries in the region.

Leading the Filipino chessers are Darry Bernardo and Cheyzer Mendoza, who delivered five and four mints, respectively, in last May’s ASEAN Para Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Also in the James Infiesto-mentored group is FIDE Maser Sander Severino a former world champion with physical disability who accounted for four of the five gold the country won in Jakarta.

"My position is always for our athletes to match or do better than our previous performances, that is always the target," said Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo.

While he showed high hopes in chess and swimming, Barred is optimistic that cycling, powerlifting as well as athletics.

"We may also see a golden breakthrough in athletics through wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan and rookie thrower Andrei Kuizon, who did well in the Cambodia,” he said. 

But generally, chess could end up bringing home the most gold again although Infiesto sees a stronger challenge than in Jakarta.

“We just try to do our best and be better,” said Infiesto. “Mas bumigat ang laban kasi compared to 2018 3rd Asian Para Games. Halos doble ang participating countries and players.”

“We just pray na sana sapat ang preparation namin for a better result,” he added.