Phl Para athletes ‘excited, eager’

The Philippines will go all out to improve on a fifth-place finish in the last staging of the ASEAN Para Games in 2017 when it sees action in the 11th edition of the biennial meet from July 30 to Aug. 6 in Solo, Indonesia.

Tokyo Paralympics swimmer Ernie Gawilan is optimistic he can improve on a two-gold, one-silver and two-bronze haul he snared and the team’s total 3-3-5 the last time in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“We’re really eager, hungry and excited to compete again in the ASEAN Para Games and we have high hopes we will do better than the last time,” said Gawilan in Filipino during yesterday’s PSA Forum.

Gawilan will see action in the 400-meter freestyle, 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke and two team relay events.

Joel Deriada, head coach of the track and field squad, likewise aired confidence that his team will match, if not improve, their 9-5-6 haul in the last edition.

“After some postponements, we’re happy to compete in the ASEAN Para Games. We’re all excited and eager to compete and make the country proud again,” said Deriada, who is fielding in a 24-strong squad headed by Paralympians Jerold Pete Mangliwan and 2017 triple gold medalist Cendy Asusena.

The squad will also have 2017 double gold winner Daisy Panaligan along with 11 promising talents they recruited in the Palarong Pambansa a few years ago.

The Nationals, who will also compete in archery, badminton, chess, boccia (precision balls), goal ball, judo, powerlifting, volleyball, basketball and table tennis, will leave on July 26 in a Philippine Airlines chartered flight arranged by the Philippine Sports Commission.