With training partner, Medina gets in shape

Paralympic Games bronze medalist Josephine Medina has waited long enough to sharpen her skills and regain her competitive form.

Since December, the country’s top para table netter plays daily with a training partner to stay in great game shape while waiting for the Tokyo Paralympics.

“I didn’t play for nine months because of restrictions (due to COVID-19). It was a long wait, so I decided to find a partner and resume training,’’ Medina told the Inquirer.

Medina, who won two silver medals in the Asian Para Games, confined her workouts inside her home from March to November last year.

The seven-time Asean Para Games table tennis champion likewise couldn’t find a venue to train since athletes were barred from using both government and private sports facilities for a long time.

Wanting her coach

“But God is good and answered my prayer for I was able to find a venue,’’ said Medina, who expressed her gratitude to National Youth Commission chair Ryan Enriquez for allowing her to train at Semicon in Pasig City daily.Medina’s next wish is for her coach, Michael Dalumpines, to secure a detailed service from the Philippine Air Force to join her on her daily workouts.

“Give me one to two months more and I will be highly competitive again. For now, I’m praying to make it in the final selection to the Paralympics,’’ said Medina.

The Paralympics is scheduled Aug. 24 to Sept. 5 with Asian Para Games champion swimmer Ernie Gawilan certain to carry the national colors.

Philippine Paralympic Committee president Michael Barredo has also sought the help of the Philippine Sports Commission for venues where other para athletes could train. INQ