There’s no reason for Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta to entertain the thought of retiring any time soon.
At 46 years old, the para powerlifting veteran is still on top of her game, delivering medals at a consistent rate every time she competes in a high-level tournament.
“What keeps me going is the full support that I have been getting from the government. It gives me opportunities to compete in as many tournaments as I can,’’ said Dumapong-Ancheta, one of only two Filipinos to capture a medal in the quadrennial Paralympic Games.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has been all-out in backing up Dumapong-Ancheta since her bronze-medal feat in the women’s -82.5-kilogram category of powerlifting in the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games.She remains one of the Filipinos to watch in the coming 10th Asean Para Games to be hosted by the Philippines in New Clark City, Clark and Subic from March 20-28.
The proud daughter of Kiangan, Ifugao, will be seeking her sixth gold medal in the Asean Para Games after ruling her weight class in 2017 Kuala Lumpur, 2015 Singapore, 2011 Jakara, 2008 Nakhon Ratchasima and 2005 Manila, which was the last time a country hosted these Games for differently abled athletes.
“Through the years, it was the PSC that gave me the confidence to continue, to have a better outlook and be proud,’’ said Dumapong-Ancheta, who donned the national colors in the Paralympics five times.
After a bronze finish in 2000 Sydney, she was a consistent medal contender in 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro, where Josephine Medina of table tennis claimed a bronze medal.
She added a bronze medal to her collection during the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, after silver-medal performances in 2014 Incheon and 2010 Guangzhou.
The multititled powerlifter has been receiving a monthly allowance of P36,000 from the PSC and has been consistently proving that she truly deserves the support.