MANILA, Philippines – The spotlight shifts to the Philippines’ finest para athletes as they carry the national colors in the 2024 Paris Paralympics that will be staged from August 28 to September 8.

The Philippines is sending its biggest delegation to the quadrennial meet since 2012, with six Filipino bets competing in four sports.

Para swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Angel Otom, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, para archer Agustina Bantiloc, para javelin thrower Cendy Asusano, and para taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin look to add to the Philippines’ all-time Paralympics medal haul that includes two bronzes.

Here is Team Philippines’ roster:

Ernie Gawilan (para swimming)

Event: men’s 400m freestyle S7, men’s 200m individual medley SM7

• will see action in his third Paralympics after appearances in 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2020 Tokyo
• competed in the final of one of his three events in the previous Paralympics
• won four gold medals in the Asian Para Games and nine gold medals in the ASEAN Para Games

Jerrold Mangliwan (para athletics)

Event: men’s 400m T52, men’s 100m T52

• will see action in his third Paralympics after appearances in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2020 Tokyo
• competed in the finals of all his three events in the previous Paralympics
• won one gold medal in the Asian Para Games and six gold medals in the ASEAN Para Games

Allain Ganapin (para taekwondo)

Event: men’s K44 -80kg

• will debut in the Paralympics
• qualified for the previous Paralympics but missed action after testing positive for coronavirus
• ruled the Asian Qualification Tournament to qualify for the Paralympics again

Cendy Asusano (para javelin throw)

Event: women’s javelin throw F54

• will debut in the Paralympics
• finished fourth in the women’s javelin throw F54 in the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships
• won four gold medals in the last two editions of the ASEAN Para Games

Angel Otom (para swimming)

Event: women’s 50m butterfly S5, women’s 50m backstroke S5

• will debut in the Paralympics
• qualified for her first Paralympics after achieving the Minimum Qualifying Standard like Gawilan
• won seven gold medals in the last two editions of the ASEAN Para Games

Agustina Bantiloc (para archery)

Event: women’s individual compound

• will debut in the Paralympics
• will serve as the Philippines’ flag bearer in the opening ceremony alongside Gawilan
• became the first para archer from the Philippines to qualify for the Paralympics

– Rappler.com