Veterans at the forefront as powerlifting squad shoots for 2 gold medals

KUALA LUMPUR—The powerlifting team is eyeing to win two gold medals including one from Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta in the Asean Para Games that starts Sunday at Bukit Jalil National Sports Complex here.

Dumapong-Ancheta, 43, is looking to strike gold in over-86 kilograms while the other one could come from another grizzled veteran Achelle Guion, 44, in the 45-kg category.

“That’s the team’s target, to get two golds; and if we’re lucky we could get more,” said Dumapong-Ancheta, who was already competing years before the first Asean Para Games was launched in 2001.

The other members of the team are Marydol Pamatian, who is seeking to improve on her bronze-medal effort in Singapore, Agustin Kitan and Romeo Tayawa.

Dumapong-Ancheta could be competing in her last major meet with retirement beckoning.

Already, the proud Ifugao is one of the most decorated Filipino Para athletes after having won four golds in this biennial meet, two silvers in the Asean Para Games and the country’s first medal in the Paralympics—a bronze in Sydney, Australia, 17 years ago.

The Philippines sent 98 athletes here, with the goal of collecting 27 gold medals. If the delegation does meet its target, it will surpass the gold haul of the country in the recent Southeast Asian Games.