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[av_heading heading=’Medina: Equality for para-athletes’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Table tennis para-athlete Josephine Medina hopes her bronze medalfinish in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics will open the door for theequality of treatment among the Philippines’ para-athletes.
If given a chance to talk to PresidentRodrigo Duterte, Medina said she will appeal to the government to give para-athletes the same support and benefits given to otherathletes.
“Iyon bang nodiscrimination sapagtingin at benepisyonanatatanggapng abled anddifferently-abled athletesmulasagobyerno,” she told DZSR Sports Radio in aninterview.
“Sana mabigaynilaangpangangailangan naming mgaPWD (persons withdisability) athletesparamaratingnaminangaminggoal namagkamitngmedalyaparasaatingbayan,” she added.
The 46-year-old Medina captured the third place in the table tenniswomen’s singles Class 8 event after scoring a 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 sweepover Juliane Wolf of Germany at the RiocentroPavillion 3 in Rio deJaneiro, Brazil.
It was the Philippines’ second Paralympic medal, the first since veteranpowerlifter Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta clinched a bronze medal inSydney, Australia, four Paralympics ago.
As part of her incentive, the Marikina Citynative Medina is set toreceive P1 million as stated in Republic Act 10699, or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.
“Sa ngayon, I just want to take a rest,” said Medina, a two-time Paralympian. “Ngayonko pa langnafi-feeliyongpagodkosatournament. Ayawkomunangisipinangincentive ko.”/PN
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