The Manila Times

2019 ASEAN PARA GAMES PREPARATIO­NS IN FULL SWING

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win on the tour. I like how my game is going but it feels great knowing that I can handle myself when I’m in contention,” said Carlos. “I feel comfortabl­e here (at Southwoods) but it’s tough to win here because of how low the scores could get on this course. You really have to make birdies.” Lascuña, for one, is itching to

- ishes in the young PREPARATIO­NS for the 10th Asean Para Games that will be hosted by the Philippine­s in January 2020 goes full swing this June with the meeting of the Asean Para Sports Federation ( APSF) that will be attended by Heads of National Paralympic Committees ( NPCs) from the 11 member countries of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Timor Leste and the Philippine­s.

Andrew Parsons, current president of the Internatio­nal Paralympic Committee, gives a big boost to the event as his Manila visit coincides with the conduct of the federation meeting. Parsons is here to help promote the Philippine paralympic movement, which embraces the IPC vision to enable para athletes to achieve sporting excellence, and inspire and excite the world.

At the top of the agenda is identifica­tion of the sports to be played in the 10th Asean Para Games ( APG) that will be held in January 2020, after the 30thSouthe­ast Asian Games that will also be hosted by the Philippine­s in December 2019.

in the 9th APG held in Malaysia in 2017. These were Boccia, Chess, Cerebral Palsy Football, Football 5- A- Side, Goalball, Para Archery, Para Athletics, Para Badminton, Para Cycling, Para Powerlifti­ng, Para Swimming, Para

at Riviera, is also eyeing a big comeback along with those who missed the cut last week, including this year’s PGT Eagle Ridge leg winner Guido Van der Valk of the Netherland­s, Thai Tommy Mansuwan, Andrew Campbell of Australia, Thai Idtiphat Silasuwan and local aces Elmer Salvador, Marvin Dumandan, Ira Alido, Orlan Sumcad, Joenard Rates and Rene Menor. Table Tennis, Sitting Volleyball, Tenpin Bowling, Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Tennis.

Participan­ts in the APG include athletes with physical, vision and intellectu­al disabiliti­es. The Asean Para Games is under the regulation of the Asean Para Sports Federation ( APSF) while the Internatio­nal Paralympic Committee ( IPC) and the Asian Paralympic Committee lend technical and classifica­tion assistance when needed.

The Para Games, held every two years, is traditiona­lly hosted by the country where the Southeast Asian Games are held. It is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

The June meeting in Manila will set the preparatio­ns for the Asean Para Games in motion and Parsons’ presence here on a visit will boost efforts currently underway for the coming Para Games. This is the second time that the Philippine­s is hosting the Asean Para Games since 2005.

The games will be held in three separate hubs located in Metro Manila, Clark and Subic. An internatio­nal sports complex is now under constructi­on in Clark where a 20,000- seat stadium is rising. An aquatic center that meets Olympic standards is also in the works.

The Asean Para Sports Federation meeting will be held from June 8 to 9 at the Bonifacio Global City.

 ?? CONTRIBUTE­D PHOTO ?? Jobim Carlos.
CONTRIBUTE­D PHOTO Jobim Carlos.

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