Para bets ready for battle in Indonesia

Powerlifter Achele Guion. PSC PHOTO

The 144-strong Philippine contingent to the 11th Asean Para Games fly out on July 26, with every athlete itching to deliver after not having to see competitive action for over two years.

“This is a hungry team, a fighting team that is eager to showcase their skills and talents after being deprived of international competition for over two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic,’’ said Mike Barredo, the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) president.

The Games were shelved in 2020 when the Philippines was supposed to host, and the Vietnam version last year.

This year’s edition will be held from July 30 to Aug. 6 in Surakarta, Indonesia.

Powerlifter and two-time Paralympian Achelle “Jinky’’ Guion has been designated as the flag-bearer in the opening ceremony, while PPC secretary general Walter Torres is the Team Philippines chef de mission.

Tokyo Paralympians Jerrold Mangliwan (wheelchair racing) and thrower Jeanette Aceveda will headline the 24-man track and field squad, the team that has the biggest number of entries.

Fide Master Sander Severino, a triple gold performer of the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Games, spearheads the 22-man chess contingent while Tokyo Paralympians Ernie Gawilan, who won seven gold medals in three Asean Para Games, and Gary Bejino are the spearheads of the 12-man swim team.

The delegation has nine archers, five judokas and eight powerlifters aside from entries in badminton (eight), boccia (four), goalball (six), sitting volleyball (10), table tennis (13), men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball (23).

The Asean Para Games campaign of Team Philippines is fully funded by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), which booked a chartered flight for the 212-strong delegation of 38 coaches, seven PPC officials, six personal assistants of para athletes and 17 PSC officials.