Medina eyes table tennis gold in KL Para Games
Josephine Medina | File Photo
KUALA LUMPUR – Paralympics table tennis bronze medal winner Josephine Medina hopes to claim another medal in the ASEAN Para Games which begins tomorrow at the Bukit Jalil National Sports Complex here.
Medina shoots for her 13th singles gold medal in her eighth appearance in the biennial meet among 11 nations.
“I always think of giving it my best every time because I know my opponents are also tough,” said the 47-year-old Medina, a native of Oas, Albay who grew up in Marikina City.
“Thankfully, that mentality always work for me,” added Medina, who bagged a bronze medal in last year’s Paralympics in Rio de Janerio, Brazil.
She is also competing in the team event with Minnie de Ramos-Cadag, who has also won a gold, silver and bronze in the ASEAN tilts.
Medina has actually gained the No. 6 ranking in the world following her Rio feat, making her the favorite in the upcoming event.
She has received an incentive amounting to P1 million and earns a monthly salary of P40,000 from the Philippine Sports Commission.
If she strikes gold, she will receive P150,000 as incentive from the government and Medina vowed to make the most of her chances.
“We’re uncertain of our status as athletes then because we only get to train if there’s competition,” said Medina, who was introduced to the sport by father Roberto, a former national team player, as part of her therapy.
“I’m happy that our hard work are paying off now,” she added.
Medina recalled being left out as a regular member of the regular national team because of her disability.
“I was winning medals in the National Open and age-group but they didn’t accept me because of my disability,” she recalled.
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