Philippine Para bets OK with Asian meet’s new sked

MANILA, Philippines — Hopes are high Team Philippines would replicate, if not surpass, its showing the last time in the fourth Asian Para Games rescheduled Oct. 22 to 28 next year.

The consensus is that postponement from its original schedule in May this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic could work on Team Philippines’ favor.

“It’s an answered prayer,” said national Para chess team coach James Infiesto after the new dates of the quadrennial event was recently announced.

The Filipino chessers raked in five gold medals including four by FIDE Master Sander Severino in Jakarta last time where the country finished strong at 10th place with a historic 10-gold, eight-silver and 11-bronze medal harvest.

The team’s other mints came from tanker Ernie Gawilan with three and bowler Kim Ian Chi, and cyclist Arthus Bucay with one each.

While there will be no bowling in Hangzhou, the Philippines remains in a position to duplicate, if not eclipse, its Jakarta showing.

The development came after the Olympic Council of Asia last month announced the new dates for the Asian Games, which will now be held from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8, 2023.

“We are happy to announce the new dates for the Asian Para Games, which were approved by the APC Executive Board. We would also like to thank HAPGOC (organizers), the Chinese Paralympic Committee and Hangzhou and Zhejiang provincial governments for their continuous support and efforts to ensure that the Games take place on the new dates,” said APC president Majid Rashed.