OPTIMISTIC after the national para track and field team’s success in the recent Cambodia Asean Para Games, head coach Joel Deriada has identified nine athletes who will likely compete in the 4th Asian Para games scheduled Oct. 22 to 28 in Hangzhou, China.
“We have already identified nine athletes for the Asian Para Games,” Deriada said during the recent thanksgiving party for the national team at the Philsports Sports complex dining hall in Pasig organized by national team manager Judith Staples.
Also present during the occasion were obstacle sports chief Atty. Al Agra, who also supported the squad, and newly appointed Philippine Paralympic Committee secretary general Goody Custodio, who was with the athletics para bets in Cambodia.
Deriada, however, declined to name the nine athletes pending further evaluation.
National standard-bearers garnered 10 gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze medals in Cambodia, marked improvement from the 6-4-14 tally they had in the para games last year in Surakarta, Indonesia.
Deriada said among those tipped to make the squad are wheelchair thrower Cendy Asusano and wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, who bagged two golds apiece in Cambodia.
Deriada said he is hoping he could bring both athletes to the World Para Athletic Championships, a qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, scheduled July 8 to 17 in Paris, France.
The coach said that in consultation with the PPC, he intends to form a competitive squad for Hangzhou and hopefully return with a medal.
“Hindi kami naka-podium finish the last time but now that we have more preparation and training, we hope to finally garner a medal in Hangzhou,” he said. “We may pull off some surprises there.”
