Table tennis Paralympic bronze medalist Josephine Medina and Singapore World Para Swimming Series silver medalist Ernie Gawilan headline the athletes competing in the 7th Philippine National Para Games which opens today at the Bulacan Sports Complex.
Over 1,010 para athletes from 72 various local government units will participate in the four-day tournament featuring archery, para athletics, para swimming, chess, judo, table tennis, boccia, para powerlifting, goalball, sitting volleyball, badminton, tenpin bowling, and wheelchair basketball. Cycling is a demo sport.
In the opening ceremonies held yesterday, PSC Chairman William Ramirez inspired the para athletes to go beyond their dreams, and use sports as an instrument of change.
“It is always a special moment for me to see our para athletes flourish in the sport that they love and discover the golden gift in them,” added the agency chief. He graced the opening together with PSC Commissioner Arnold Agustin and Philippine Paralympic Committee President Mike Barredo.
Meanwhile, Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado thanked the PPC and PSC for choosing the province as host of the national games saying “the province of Bulacan is grateful to the PPC and PSC for giving us the opportunity to host this sporting event for our para athletes. Throughout the games, we would like to show everyone that our venues are completely differently-abled friendly.”
Simultaneous games start today at the Bulacan Sports Complex (archery, para athletics and para swimming), Hiyas Convention (chess, judo, table tennis and boccia), Bulacan Capitol Gym (goalball and sitting volleyball), City Walk Badminton Court (Badminton), Paradise Bowling Center (tenpin bowling) and at Guiguinto Municipal Athletic & Cultural Center (wheelchair basketball).
