TOP sports officials are confident the national para athletes will surpass their previous haul in the Asean Para Games in Indonesia last year when the 12th edition kicks off on June 3 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
“Again, as in the past, our goal is to do better than ever before. We are actually sending our biggest ever delegation to Cambodia,” Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo said during the national para team’s send-off party last Tuesday at the PICC Forum building in Pasay.
The Philippine delegation will be composed of 175 athletes and 85 coaches and officials, with the latest additions the men’s cerebral palsy football and women’s goalball squads.
Present during the occasion were the four commissioners of the Philippine Sports Commission — Fritz Gaston, who represented PSC chairman Richard Bachmann; Bong Coo, Edward Hayco and Walter Torres, who will be the chief of mission anew of the contingent.
The team will do battle up to June 9.
Torres expressed optimism the national campaigners would fare better this time in the regional sportsfest after the national team returned home with 28 gold, 40 silver and 46 bronze medals last year.
“I see a better performance in terms of medal haul. Our national para athletes actually immediately started training after Surakarta and some have had international exposure,” he said, “and the training venues have opened up.
“While we may still have some of the familiar faces, we also have some new and promising ones. I believe we have a stronger team.”
Swimmer Ariel Joseph Alegarbes has been given the honor of being the country’s standard-bearer during the opening of the games at the Morodok Techno National Stadium.
A triple gold medalist in his memorable debut last year in Surakarta, Alegarbes said he was shocked by his designation as flag-bearer.
“I am shocked but extremely happy by this honor. I could not believe it,” said the swimmer, who takes over the role that para powerlifter Achelle Guion did in last year’s Games.
Among those who have had recent international exposure were the national para track and field and swimming squads, who saw action in the Indian Open and Word Cup Series in Bengaluru, India and Singapore, respectively.
