MANILA -- Paralympians Adeline Dumapong Ancheta and Agustin Kitan failed to win a medal in their respective events in the World Para Powerlifting Championships at the Gymnasium Juan dela Barrera in Benito Juarez Sports Complex, Mexico City on Saturday morning.
Entered in the women's over 86-kg. category, Ancheta tried to lift 111 kg. twice and made another attempt at 120 kg. -- but all her lifts did not get the judges’ approval.
"With 333 lifters from 71 countries, it's been a tough competition. I am grateful that we were given a chance to participate. Non-participation in this World Championships is equivalent to saying goodbye to the Tokyo Paralympic Games, too," Ancheta said in an online interview.
"I may not have ranked in this competition but I'll have another chance. It happens to the best athletes. What else can I do except to learn from the lesson well and prepare for the next competition stronger? This is sports -- we win some, we lose some. Bangon lang at laban uli! (Rise and compete again!)" said Ancheta, who gave the Philippines its first medal in the Paralympic Games when she won the bronze in 2000 in Sydney.
Egypt's Randa Mahmoud, who registered a best lift of 138 kg. on her third attempt, won the medal. She lifted 132 kg. in the first and 135 kg. in the second.
Nigerian Loveline Obiji lifted 136 kg. to clinch the silver medal while Mexico's Perla Barcenas took the bronze medal with her best lift of 133 kg.
Meanwhile, Kitan finished 14th among 18 entries in the men's Up to 65 kg. category.
Kitan, a veteran of the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Paralympics, succeeded in lifting 145 kg. on his third attempt.
Nigeria's Paul Kehinde won the gold medal and set a new world record when he lifted 220.5 kg. on his third attempt. His first two lifts – 210 kg. and 211 kg. -- were all good.
Chinese Liu Lei got the silver medal with a best lift of 193 kg. on his second attempt while Algeria's Hocine Bettir registered his best lift of 188 kg. on his third attempt to clinch the bronze medal.
Two other Filipinos -- Achella Guion and Romeo Tayawa -- also missed a podium finish. Guion placed eighth among 13 entries in the women's Up to 65 kg. category, while Tayawa landed 13th among 18 competitors in the men's Up to 40 kg. category.
Philippine Sports Association for the Differently-Abled (Philspada) executive director, Dennis Esta, who also serves as the team's head of delegation, said the tournament in Mexico is important for Filipinos seeking to qualify in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
"Before coming here, our athletes know that they will be up against the world's best. But we need to participate in this tournament, which is compulsory to those who want to compete in Tokyo," Esta added.
The team, which includes coach Ramon Debuque, will return to Manila on Monday.
Two more tournaments -- the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia and the 2019 World Championships in Kazakhstan -- also serve as qualifying for the Tokyo Summer Games. (PNA)
