PHILIPPINE Paralympic Committee President Mike Barredo yesterday identified the four original members of the national Paralympic contingent left behind in Manila and unable to go to the World Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan because they tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement, Barredo revealed they were para lifter Michelle Guion, her coach, Antonio Taguibao; athletics coach Joel Deriada and national team chief of mission Francis Diaz, the dean of the UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics.
They were not with the delegation that left early last Sunday for the quadrennial sportsfest that formally opened last night at the Japan National Stadium.
“Jinky (Guion’s nickname) is deeply frustrated that she will not be lifting in her event for her country after training for so long,” said Barredo. “She was getting much inspiration from Hidylin Diaz, who won the country’s first Olympic gold medal in the Tokyo Olympic Games.”
Guion was scheduled to compete in women’s -45 kilogram final tomorrow at the Tokyo International Forum, the same arena where Diaz won her historic mint last July 26 in ruling the women’s 55-kilogram division of weightlifting.
