Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 30) – Three Filipino para-athletes secured their slots to the Tokyo Paralympics on Wednesday.
Philippine Paralympic Committee secretary general Walter Torres confirmed to CNN Philippines that the Paralympic stints of wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda, and swimmer Gary Bejino have been formalized.
Mangliwan, who will be in his second straight Paralympic appearance after competing in the 2016 Rio Games, surpassed the Paralympic qualifying standard time in the 400-meter T52 wheelchair race in the 2021 World Para Athletics Grand Prix held last month in Nottwil, Switzerland.
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Aceveda, who is expected to compete in the women’s F11/12 discus throw event in Tokyo, also met the Paralympic qualifying standard time in one of her tournaments.
Torres added the Philippines has been granted two slots, one for each gender, in the upcoming Tokyo Paralympics athletics competitions and the berths went to Mangliwan and Aceveda.
Meanwhile, Bejino earned the bipartite slot after meeting the minimum Paralympic qualifying time in his silver medal finish in the men’s S6 200-meter individual medley event of the 2018 Asian Para Games.
The Bipartite Commission Invitation is a qualification method for para-athletes who were not given a chance to qualify for the Paralympics due to “extraordinary circumstances.”
Coach Tony Ong told CNN Philippines Bejino will also compete in the 400-meter freestyle, 100-meter backstroke, and 50-meter butterfly S6 events in Tokyo.
Ong added Bejino’s feat marked the first time that the Philippines will send two swimmers in a Paralympic event.
The three Filipino para-athletes will join swimmer Ernie Gawilan and taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin in the Tokyo Games slated Aug. 24 to Sept. 5.
