Filipinos are hopeful the country’s best para-athletes to include Jerrold Pete Mangliwan of Tabuk City, Kalinga will have a historic campaign in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics that kicked off on Aug. 24.
The 41-year-old Mangliwan is part of the six-man Philippine Team that is also determined to bring home the first gold medal in the Paralympics also held every four years.
Mangwilan, who was also the flag-bearer during the opening rites, will compete in the men’s 400-meter T52, men’s 1500m T52, and men’s 100m T52.
The Tabuk native entered the men’s 400m T52 finals in the 2016 Rio Games but failed to clinch a medal after he fi-nished seventh place.
Mangwilan, who has paraplegia due to polio that was detected when he was two years old, is a two-time ASEAN Para Games gold medalist making him one of the accomplished Filipino para-athletes even when he started wheelchair racing at age 29.
Grit and determination greatly contributed to Mang-liwan’s success in wheel racing, as he earned a slot for the Tokyo Games this year based on his past performances cleared by the International Paralympic Committee’s minimum qualifying standard and minimum entry slot.
The Philippine Information Agency reported he is ma-king his Paralympics return this year after surpassing the Paralympics standard time of one minute and 3.27 seconds in the 400-meter T52 wheelchair race du-ring the 2021 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Nottwill, Switzerland.
The other Filipino para-athlete is Ernie Gawilan who will compete in the men’s 200m individual medley SM7, men’s 400m freestyle S7, and men’s 100m backstroke S7. He was the most bemedalled Filipino para-athlete in the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Allain Ganapin will also compete in the taekwondo’s men’s K44-75-kilogram. He is the first Filipino para taekwondo jin to qualify for the quadrennial meet while para-athletics Jeanette Aceveda will compete in the women’s discus throw F11.
Also representing the Philippines are Gary Bejino who will see action in the men’s 200m individual medley SM6, men’s 400m freestyle S6, men’s 50m butterfly S6, and men’s 100m backstroke S6 while powerlifting para-athlete Archelle Guion hopes to win a medal in the women’s -45kg. – Harley F. Palangchao
April 27, 2024
