NAGOYA — Here comes the brigade.
Tankers Ernie Gawilan and Angel Otom, cyclists Arthus Bucay and Patrick Lee and lifter Alyana Nuñez will try to deliver a gold-medal starved Philippine team as action intensifies in the 5th Asian Para Games on Monday.
Mr. Gawilan, the lone Filipino gold medalist left from the Hangzhou edition three years ago, will plunge into action on Monday at the Rainbow Pool of the Nagoya City General Gymnasium along with the wondrous 23-year Ms. Otom, a triple gold winner in last year’s ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand who is hoping to claim her breakthrough mint in Nagoya.
“Kapalaran na ang magsasabi bukas,” said the 35-year-old Paquibato, Davao City native who was born with underdeveloped legs.
For the 45-year-old Mr. Bucay, a Paralympian and former Asian Games gold winner, and 21-year-old Mr. Lee, an Asian Para Track Championship bronze medalist last March in Tagaytay, they will try to earn 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics qualifying points if not deliver the country’s first gold in this city facing the Pacific coast.
Mr. Bucay is scheduled to race in the 1-kilometer (km) individual time trial (ITT) track and road race, while Mr. Lee in 1- km ITT and individual pursuit track and 15-km ITT and 65-km road race in the pool event set at the Izu Veldrome and Japan Cycle Sports Center in Izu, Shizouka Prefecture, which is a three-hour drive from Nagoya.
Also part of the team is Nikko Peralta, who will compete in 4-km pursuit road race and ITT road hoping and praying to pull off a surprise or two.
Despite some early setbacks, there were some rays of hope in table tennis at the Sky Hall Toyota where Lhey Manginsay and Billy Smith Cartera advanced to the quarterfinals and Round of 16, respectively.
The 22-year-old Ms. Manginsay routed Tajikistan’s Nadima Nurbekova, 11-9, 12-10, 11-1, in the women’s singles Class 9 that more than made up for a stinging 9-11, 10-12, 1-11 defeat to three-time Paralympic gold medalist Mao Jingdian of China last Friday.
Mr. Cartera, for his part, downed Mongolian Myagmartsogt Purevdorj, 11-4, 11-2, 11-1, to advance to the Round of 16 in the men’s singles Class 4-5.
Mr. Cartera, who lost to World No. 5 Zhengyang Peng of China in his first outing, seeks a quarters seat against Thai Norakan Chanphaka on Monday.
The games was officially ushered in last night amid the grand lights of the athletic stadium of the Paloma Mizuho Sports Park.
Around 5,000 Japanese, foreign guests, athletes, coaches, sports officials, and media attended the festivities which gave spectators a piece of Japanese history that officially ushered in this eight-day event that will host 45 countries, including the 69-strong Philippine side, battling for glory in 18 sports disciplines.
Athletes from the Philippines, headed by flag-bearers Ms. Manginsay and Allain Ganapin of taekwondo, along with Chef de Mission (CDM) Francis Diaz and Deputy CDM Judd Anastacio, joined the parade in Filipiñana attire. — Joey Villar