ONE ON ONE. The Philippines' Mark Vincent Aguilar (No. 4) tries to score off Thailand's Atin Singdon in their wheelchair basketball match in the 4th Hangzhou Asian Para Games at Hangzhou Olympic Center Gymnasium in China on Saturday (Oct. 21, 2023). The defending champion Thais won, 70-32, for their second win in three outings in Group A while the Filipinos dropped to 0-3. (Photo courtesy of PSC-POC Media Group)
HANGZHOU – Chess player Darry Bernardo and swimmer Angel Mae Otom will be the flag-bearers in their debut at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games here on Sunday night.
The opening ceremony of the Games’ fourth edition will be held at the 80,000-seat Hangzhou Olympic Stadium.
Bernardo and Otom were among the standouts in the 11th Cambodia ASEAN Para Games that ended in June, winning six and four gold medals, respectively.
They will march ahead of the Philippine contingent of 46 athletes and officials.
“Hindi ko akalain na isa ako sa mapili na maging flag-bearer. Masayang-masaya po ako at malaking karangalan po ito sa akin,” the limbless Otom, the 20-year-old pride of Olongapo City, Zambales, said of the rare honor.
Philippine Paralympic Committee chair Mike Barredo and secretary general Goody Custodio, Philippine Sports Commissioners Walter Torres and Ed Hayco, and chef de mission Ral Rosario and deputy Millet Bonoan are among the officials accompanying the athletes.
Cambodia gold medalist in javelin throw Cendy Asusano and visually impaired judokas Carlito Agustin and Deterson Omas, bronze medalists, are also part of the team.
The Filipino para campaigners took home 10 gold, 8 silver and 11 bronze medals during the 2018 edition in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Athletics, archery, swimming, powerlifting and taekwondo likewise serve as qualifying competitions for the Paris Paralympic Games next year. (PSC-POC Media Group/PNA)
