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[av_heading heading=’ BUZZER BEATER High hopes for PH para-athletes’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Friday. September 15, 2017
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THE Philippines’ differently abled athletes will try to accomplish what their able counterparts failed to do as they compete in the 9th ASEAN Para Games from Sept. 17 to 23 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Chef de mission Ral Rosario said he is optimistic the 164-member Filipino team can take home a minimum of 27 gold medals – three more than the abled athletes captured during the 29th Southeast Asian Games.
“The team is in high spirits, and if our estimation is correct, we have a strong chance of winning 27 golds, perhaps more,” Rosario told Buzzer Beater during their sendoff recently at a restaurant in Mandaluyong City.
Among those expected to lead the Philippine team are table tennis’ Josephine Medina, who captured a bronze during the Rio Paralympics last year, and powerlifter Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta.
“It will not be easy but I can assure our country I will give my best to win gold,” Medina said in Filipino. Her best effort in this stage was when she harvested four golds in the 2008 edition in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
“I was told by my coaches that I can still compete at this high level for four or five more years,” said the 43-year-old Dumapong, who had amassed four ASEAN golds and two silvers, and a couple of silvers in the Asian Para Games.
Others expected to deliver for Team Philippines are chesser Minandro Ridor, who will serve as the country’s flag-bearer, FIDE Master Sander Severino and Henry Lopez.
The Philippines is fielding athletes in badminton (seven), boccia (three), chess (17), athletics (nine), cycling (three), goal ball (six), powerlifting (five), table tennis (nine), swimming (10), tenpin bowling (15), and wheelchair basketball (12)./PN
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