The Philippines wants to form a competitive team that can match or improve on its ASEAN Para Games performance, when it is finally held next year, most probably in Indonesia, which is bidding to host the biennial meet that has been postponed twice already.
Philippine Paralympic Committee secretary general Walter Torres, who has been named the national delegation’s chef de mission, refused to put a number on how many medals the team is expected to secure, but they are looking to form a fighting team for the para games.
“It’s hard to say how many medals we can win since there is no list of events yet, but we usually get medals from athletics, swimming, chess and probably in cycling, powerlifting and table tennis,” said Torres.
PPC officials are hoping that they can match or outdo their previous performance in 2017, when the Philippines placed fifth with its 20-20-29 gold-silver-bronze haul.
“In the last ASEAN Para Games in Malaysia, we sent 120 athletes from nine sports,” said Torres, adding that they are hoping to send a team that can represent the country well in all 13 sports of the para games calendar.
Torres said that they will also have to train using the sports facilities that will be available next year at the Philsports, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and in Baguio.
Doing so will help the national para-athletes train and perform at their best, according to Torres, who added that they are still finalizing the number of athletes, who will join.
“It’s not easy to find accessible training facilities. I hope our para athletes can return to the facilities since most of them are from the provinces,” said Torres.
PPC president Michael Barredo, after attending a virtual meeting of the 11th ASEAN Para Games Sports Federation, said he is now seeking the support of the Philippine Sports Commission on the country’s participation.
“With this development, we are requesting for the full support of the PSC in funding the participation, training and equipment, as well as making the training facilities (Philsports and RMSC) open to our para athletes beginning January 2022,” said Barredo.
During the meeting, Indonesian organizers proposed to hold the games in Solo, Indonesia, which previously staged the 2011 ASEAN Para Games.
Indonesia also successfully hosted the Asian Para Games in 2018, when the Philippines ranked 12th out of 44 countries after bagging 10 gold medals, eight silvers and 11 bronzes.
The 10th ASEAN Para Games was supposed to be held in January 2020 after the Philippines’ hosting of the SEA Games in December of 2019.
It was rescheduled to March 2020 because of financial and logistical constraints, but was reset for the second time from Oct. 3 to 9, only to be cancelled altogether because of concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnam also begged off from hosting the para games after its SEAG task is through, with Indonesia indicating its intention to hold the games.
The country, however, will need to resolve its issue with the World Anti-Doping Agency before it can fully pursue its plans.