MANILA -- The Philippine Sports Association for the Differently-Abled (PHILSPADA) has announced the initial list of sports for the Philippine hosting of the 2019 ASEAN Para Games.
In an interview with Radyo Pilipinas2 on Thursday, PHILSPADA president Michael Barredo said archery, athletics, badminton, basketball (wheelchair), boccia, chess, cycling, futsal, goal ball, sitting volleyball, swimming, powerlifting, table tennis, tenpin bowling and triathlon make up the initial list to be presented to the ASEAN Para Council middle of next year.
Barredo also revealed that officials of the ASEAN Para Games will be included in the Philippines SEA Games Organizing Committee chaired by Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Barredo said that he has discussed with Cayetano the selection of sports and events as well as the specification of competition and training venues for para athletes.
The Philippines is hoping to surpass its performance in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last September.
Led by Paralympians Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta and Josephine Medina, the Philippines won 20 golds, 20 silvers and 29 bronzes to finish behind Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Dumapong-Ancheta won the women’s over 86kg event in powerlifting, while Medina ruled the women's singles SF6-8 category in table tennis.
The three-member cycling team coached by multi-medalist Norberto Oconer was the most productive in the Philippine contingent, winning one gold, four silvers and one bronze.
Indonesia topped the medal board with 126 golds, 75 silvers, and 50 bronzes. Most of the golds came from athletics (40) and swimming (39). Malaysia was second with 90 golds medals, including 36 in athletics and 22 in cycling, to go with 85 silvers, and 83 bronzes. Thailand finished third with 68 golds, 26 coming from athletics, 73 silvers, and 95 bronzes, while Vietnam placed fourth with 40 golds (17 in athletics and 15 in swimming), 61 silvers and 60 bronzes. (PNA)
