MAY 1,533 athletes at coaches mula sa 11 bansa, kasama ang host Philippines, ang kalahok sa 9th ASEAN Para Games na sasambulat sa Marso.
Lalaruin ang games sa bagong gawang Rizal Memorial Coliseum Sports Complex, New Clark City at Subic Freeport Zone kung saan nilaro ang katatapos 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Ang total number of participants ay nanggaling sa opisina ni Philippine Sports Commission deputy executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr. sa pamamagitan ng kanyang chief of staff na si Liza Ner.
Kakatawanin ang host county ng 250 athletes, kasama sina Paralympics bronze medalist at Asian Para Games bronze medalist Adeline Dumapong at 2016 Brazil Olympic bronze medalist Josephine Medina.
Ang nasabing bilang ay mas marami sa 111 delegation na ipinadala sa nakaraang torneo na ginawa sa Malaysia.
“It is proper and logical the Philippines field many athletes because we are the host and we should maximize the winning potential. We took advantage of fielding many athletes to strengthen the medal target and at the same time give them foreign exposures,” sabi ni Philippine Sports for the Differently Handicapped Association president Michael Barredo.
Ang Indonesia ang may pinakamalaking delegation na mahigit 400. Walang eksaktong bilang ang delegasyon ng ibang bansang kasapi tulad ng Thailand, Vietnam. Malaysia at Singapore.
Kasama sa sports na lalaruin ang archery, wheelchair basketball, chess, futsal, power lifting, swiiming at obstacle course bilang demonstration sports.
Sinabi ni Barredo na puspusan ang training ng mga atleta para masiguro ang tagumpay sa kanilang pet sports.
“The one month training will sharpen their individual skills and broaden their experience,” ani Barredo. CLYDE MARIANO
