Para-taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin became the latest Filipino to earn a Tokyo Paralympics berth after getting a bi-partite invitation from organizers.
The Philippine Paralympic Committee disclosed this Tuesday, June 8 and informed the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Taekwondo Association of the unique invitation.
Francis Diaz, the PH team’s chief of mission to the Tokyo Paralympics, said this is a unique forma where each Paralympic International Federation evaluates submitted applications for bi-partite invitations.
The country also has submitted similar applications for para swimming, para athletics, para table tennis, powerlifting and cycling, all awaiting decisions by the end of the month or early July.
Ganapin failed to secure a direct ticket to the Paralympics after settling for the bronze medal in the men’s K44 -75kgs division of the Asian Qualification Tournament in Amman, Jordan last month.
Ganapin's qualification brings the Paralympic-bound PH team to four athletes with para swimmer Ernie Gawilan, para-trackster Jerrold Mangliwan and one female from para-athletics that has yet to be verified.
Mangliwan's qualification is based on past performances that cleared the minimum qualifying standard and the minimum entry slots set by the International Paralympic Committee.
He made the Paralympic standard grade in the 400-meter T52 wheelchair race at the 2021 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Switzerland also last month.