IN a decision adversely affecting the country’s campaign two years from now, Japanese hosts have dropped the medal-rich sport of chess from the roster of disciplines that will be played in the 5th Nagoya Asian Para Games, according to the Asian Paralympic Committee.
In a joint announcement with the Japanese Local Organizing Committee last Dec. 12, only 18 sports, four less than the roster in the 4th Hangzhou Asian Para Games, will be played in the major Japanese port city from Oct. 18 to 24, 2026.
“Definitely, I am not happy about it because chess was a rich source of medals for us in Hangzhou, pushing us into the top 10,” Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo noted of the sad development.
“Even national para chess head coach James Infiesto has talked to me about how we can remedy the situation,” Barredo added.
The Philippines finished an all-time best of ninth overall in Hangzhou among 44 countries with 10 gold, four silver and five bronze medals, with the huge bulk coming from chess with eight golds, three silvers and two bronzes, respectively.
The PH para chess players wound up second overall in the sport behind Indonesia (10-7-8) and ahead of No. 3 Iran (4-7-4) in the competition that drew at least 16 countries.
Visually-impaired players Menandro Redor and Darry Bernardo were the topnotchers for the PH contingent with four mints each, teammates Henry Roger Lopez and Atty. Cheyzer Mendoza had two golds and one silver; while the other two golds were from swimmer Ernie Gawilan and Jerrold Mangliwan.
Listed in the roster for the Nagoya Asian Para Games are archery, athletics, badminton, blind football, badminton, boccia, cycling (track and road), goalball, judo, powerlifting, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.