2009 ASEAN Para Games starts today

Rounds 1 and 2 for chess competitions will be played today in the opening day of the 2009 ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Games are scheduled until August 19 in Bukit Halil, Kuala Lumpur. A total of 16 gold medals are at stake in eight categories.

We wish the RP Team good luck. Let's pray for them.

Here is the news story I lifted from PNA about the campaign of our PARA Team:

The 64-man Team Philippines kicks off its bid to surpass its 17-gold finish two years ago as action in the 5th Southeast Asian Para Games starts on Saturday at the Putra National Stadium in Bukit Jalil here.

Philippine Sports Association for Differently-Abled (Philspada) president Mike Barredo said the Filipino athletes may pull off some surprises against the top bets from other ASEAN member countries including defending champion Thailand and host Malaysia.

"Despite their disabilities, they want to return to our country proud of being a Filipino. They also want to bring glory to our dear Philippines,” said Barredo, former PSC commissioner.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) sponsored by the trip of the para-athletes.
Barredo is pinning his hopes on Arnel Alba in swimming, Josephine Medina in table tennis, Minnie de Ramos also in table tennis, Juanito Manguine in athletics, Aris Carbonell in discuss throw, Isidro Beldaba in wheelchair tennis, Sander Severino in chess and Adelyn Dumapong who will compete for the first time in athletics aside from his favorite powerlifting event.

“We can do more because we have also won 21 silver medals and 21 bronzes in the Thailand meet two years ago,” Barredo said.

Earlier, PSC chairman Harry Angping encouraged the 64 athletes and 20 officials during a send-off party to go for nothing else but the golds, saying it’s what determines the champion.
Aside from Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, other participating countries include Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Timor Leste, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.

Laos, host of this year’s 25th Southeast Asian Games, was supposed to host also the biennial meet for the differently-abled athletes but begged off due to lack of sports facilities, making the second time for Malaysia to host the event.

Malaysia hosted the initial staging in 2001. Among the sports include are athletics, powerlifting, judo, chess, archery, fencing, target shooting, ball sports, badminton, boccia, bowling, goalball, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair volleyball, water sports, sailing and swimming.