Team PH aims high amid strong field in Asian Para Games

MANILA — Filipino para athletes are bracing for a tough challenge against a strong field in the 5th Asian Para Games, which opens on Sunday night at the Paloma Mizuho Sports Park in Nagoya, Japan.

The Philippines sent 69 athletes to compete in 18 disciplines to the continental showcase, with Lhey Manginsay of table tennis and Allain Ganapin of taekwondo carrying the flag during the opening ceremonies.

Manginsay came into the inaugurals riding the crest of an 11-9, 12-10, 11-1 victory over Tajikistan’s Nadima Nurbekova in the women’s singles class 9 in table tennis at the Sky Hall Toyota the day before.

With only eight participants in her category, Manginsay is assured of a quarterfinal spot.

Also providing a ray of light in the same discipline was Smith Billy Cartera, who trounced Mongolian Myagmartsogt Purevdorj, 11-4, 11-2, 11-1, to advance to the round of 16 in the men’s singles Class 4-5.

Cartera, who lost to World No. 5 Zhengyang Peng of China in his first outing, seeks a quarterfinal seat against Thai Norakan Chanphaka Monday.

At the Rainbow Pool of the Nagoya City General Gymnasium, veteran campaigner Ernie Gawilan leads the Philippine team with an eye on the gold.

“Sana magawa natin ulit. Kapalaran na ang magsasabi bukas,” said the 35-year-old Gawilan, who is hoping to replicate, if not eclipse, the one-gold, one-bronze effort in the last edition in Hangzhou, China three years ago.

Another tanker to watch is wonder girl Angel Otom, a triple-gold winner in last year’s ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

Aside from medals, the Philippine cycling team of Arthus Bucay, Patrick Lee and Nikko Peralta will be eyeing qualifying points to the 2028 LA Paralympics when cycling action unfurls at the Izu Velodrome and Japan Cycle Sports Center in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture on Monday.

The 45-year-old Bucay, a 2012 Paralympian and a 2018 Asian Games gold and bronze medalist, is racing in the 1km individual time trial track and road race while 21-year-old Lee, who copped a bronze in the Asian Para Track Championship last March in Tagaytay, is seeing action in the 1km ITT and individual pursuit track and 15km ITT and 65km road race.

As for Peralta, he will battle in the 4 km pursuit road race and ITT road, hoping and praying to pull a surprise or two.

Meanwhile, the para powerlifters are targeting a podium finish.

“They will definitely do their utmost best, we’ll see,” said Philippine para powerlifting coach Adeline Dumapong.

The squad will be represented by Rico Canlas and Allan Paje at the event set at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center.