MANILA, Philippines — Josephine Medina, 2016 Paralympics table tennis bronze medalist, is one step closer to joining swimmer Ernie Gawilan in Tokyo next year.
Medina, 50, has received an invitation from the International Table Tennis Federation as an “alternate,” through a bipartite agreement given by international federations (IFs) to member countries.
It means, if any participant begs off or an additional spot becomes available, Medina will be tapped as replacement.
“We formally confirmed our intention to get that slot for her (Medina),” said Francis Diaz, the country’s chief of mission to the ASEAN Para Games and part of the Philippine Paralympic Committee.
“What happens now is the IF will coordinate with the Tokyo Paralympic Games accreditation committee to facilitate the process,” he added.
Diaz, however, clarified that Medina, a consistent gold medal winner in the ASEAN Para Games, can still earn an outright slot when she vies in qualifying events.
Gawilan made the cut earlier this year.