ALL six Filipino paraathletes are drawing inspiration from the country’s most successful campaign in the last Tokyo Olympics to go all out and deliver in the World Paralympic Games set to start on Aug. 24 in the Japanese capital.
“Inspired kami at na-lift up sa tagumpay na naganap sa Tokyo Olympics, mas na-motivate po kami na galingan sa darating na World Paralympics,” Rio Para Games veteran and swimmer Ernie Gawilan said yesterday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum.
Taekwondo jin and World Para Games debutant Allain Ganapin echoed Gawilan’s sentiments, saying: “Tuwang-tuwa po ako sa nakuha nating medal sa Tokyo Olympics, sa sobrang success po nila duon. Sobra kaming ganado sa ensaho at iniisip na nanduon na po kami sa Tokyo nagpe-perform.”
National team chef of mission Francis Diaz said all six athletes are eager and prepared to play for flag and country in the meet that was also delayed by a year due to the COVIDpandemic.
The other local campaigners are wheelchair racer Jerold Magliwan, who will be the flag-bearer during the opening ceremonies on Aug. 24; swimmer Gary Bejino, discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda and power lifter Achele Guion.
“Wholistically speaking, physically, mentally, psychologically and emotionally, reading-ready na po sila na lalahok sa Tokyo Paralympic Games,” Diaz said in the public sports program backed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., San Miguel, Smart and Milo.
He added that Olympic boxing silver medalist Nesthy Petecio went out of her way to encourage the para athletes online.
Diaz said his wards are not under pressure to duplicate the performance of their able-bodied compatriots, who delivered one gold, two silvers and one bronze medalin Tokyo Games.
“Nasasabi ko ito kasi dahil grabe na ang pinagdaanan ng mga athletes natin para lang mag-qualify. Therefore performance-wise everyone is ready and prepared to compete in Tokyo,” Diaz said. “Kung kailangan silang sumuka ng dugo, gagawin nila para pinakamagaling na kaya nilang laruin upang magbigay ng karangalan sa ating bansa.
“Whether this effort lands them a medal or not, para sa aking bilang CDM and their coaches, this is what we are hoping and praying for, so there is no pressure whatsoever,” he said.
Gawilan, who has made a splash in the Southeast Asian and Asian levels, said he is keen on reaching the finals of the men’s 400-meter freestyle where he is ranked among the top 10 in the world while Ganapin is aiming to reach the finals of the men’s -75-kilogram class.
“Mga three heats po ang kailangan para makarating sa finals,” disclosed the swimmer, who will also be the country’s standard-bearer during the closing rites on Sept. 5.
Diaz said they are hoping to duplicate if not surpass the bronze medals won by table tennis player Josephine Medina and power lifter Adeline Dumapong Ancheta in the 2016 Rio and 2000 Sydney editions of the event, respectively.
