RETIREMENT. Para powerlifter Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta receives recognition during the 2023 Extraordinary Filipino with Disabilities award held by the National Council on Disability Affairs in December last year. Ancheta on Wednesday (Jan. 31, 2024) announced her retirement after 25 years of a successful journey as one of the country’s top para-athletes. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Para athlete Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta on Wednesday announced her retirement from powerlifting.
The native of Kiangan, Ifugao province had an illustrious career, highlighted by winning the country's first medal at the Paralympic Games when she won the bronze in Sydney, Australia in 2000.
"I have been a national para powerlifter for 25 years. Having reached the age of 50, it's time to park the barbel and weights in their rack," said Dumapong-Ancheta, who contracted polio when she was three years old.
In her letter to Philippine Sports Association for the Differently-Abled (PHILSPADA) president Michael Barredo, the five-time Paralympian said she is “forever grateful” for the opportunities given to her to serve the country as a para-athlete.
“It has been a great honor and privilege to have represented our country in many international competitions. It is also with pride and pleasure that I have witnessed how PHILSPADA evolved as an organization and triumphantly surmounted challenges over the years to give the best support to its constituents, the para-athletes. Being an athlete has played a crucial role in my personal and professional growth,” she added.
Barredo thanked Dumapong-Ancheta, saying her contributions "have helped shape para sports in the Philippines and paved the way for the next generation of para-athletes."
"You have shown us that disabilities are challenges meant to be faced head-on with neither fear nor reservation. Indeed, your journey has been long and difficult, but never impossible," he added.
Dumapong-Ancheta became a member of the national team in 1999, and in the same year won the silver medal (+85kg) at the Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC). She got another silver in the next edition of the FESPIC Games, which is a precursor to the Asian Para Games.
She pocketed two silvers (2010 Guangzhou and 2014 Incheon) and a bronze (2018 Jakarta) in the Asian Games, while in the ASEAN Para Games, she won five golds (2005 Manila, 2008 Nakhon Ratchasima, 2011 Jakarta, 2015 Singapore, and 2017 Kuala Lumpur) and three silvers (2022 Surakarta, 204 Naypyidaw, and 2001 Kuala Lumpur).
Dumapong-Ancheta also won the gold medal at the Asian Powerlifting Open Championships (2007 Manila), Malaysian Paralympiad (2000 Kuala Lumpur), and Asian Benchpress Championships (1999 Manila). (PNA)
