PH team optimistic in ASEAN Para Games
The Philippine team is optimistic of its chances when it competes in the 11th ASEAN Para Games set July 30 to Aug. 6 in Solo, Indonesia.
“Mga gutom at uhaw kami, kaya lalo na kaming naging excited to bring home the honors,” said athletics coach Joel Deriada in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum held online.
This would be the first international competition for the PH para athletes after the 2019 edition was cancelled and the 2021 edition was moved this year.
The last edition they competed in was in 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the country won 20 gold, 20 silver and 29 bronze medals.
A total of 212 delegates will be participating in the biennial meet with 144 athletes competing in 12 of the 14 sports. There will be 38 coaches, seven personal assistants and 23 officials accompanying the athletes.
Paralympian swimmer Ernie Gawilan said they are making most out of their bubble training setup at Philsports Complex to eclipse their previous showing in the biennial meet.
“May potential kaming lahat. Malaki ang chances namin lalo na sa swimming,” said Gawilan, who would be competing in five events.
The team is expected to leave on a chartered flight directly to Solo on July 26 to give time for their classification process.