THE Philippine Paralympic team is hoping to calendar a longer preparation and training period as it looks forward of competing in two major events in 2022.
Swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, along with swimming coach Tony Ong shared the same sentiment in an attempt not to repeat the same misfortune the team experienced in the recent Tokyo Paralympics.
Due to strict quarantine and safety protocols owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Filipino Paralympians didn’t have the benefit of training for a longer period ahead of the quadrennial meet.
With lessons learned, the Filipino para athletes hope a change in their training environment could be arranged as they gear up for the Asian Para Games and the Asean Para Games next year.
“We didn’t have the luxury of a bubble training in 2020. If we had one, we could have done better,” Ong told the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.
“But hopefully, we can have one so we’ll be better prepared for the Asian Games and Southeast Asian Para Games next year,” he added in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. “We need a longer training period.”
Mangliwan, who made the finals of all his events in Tokyo, agreed with the Ong during the same forum powered by Smart with Upstream Media as official webcast partner.
“It would have been better had we trained in a bubble or in a training camp so we maintained our competitive level,” said the 41-year-old wheelchair racer who advanced to the men’s finals of the 100m, 400m and 1500m T52 classification.
Despite the limited training time and the challenges they faced as some members of the team tested positive for Covid-19, the Filipinos still fought their hearts out and made the most of the opportunity in Tokyo.
Gawilan, 30, also made the finals of his two events in the men’s 100m backstroke and 400m freestyle S7 competitions. He also eclipsed his qualifying time in the 400 meter freestyle as he became the first Filipino para swimmer to reach the finals of the Paralympics.
“A daily training program is appropriate. But I would need to improve on my technique and mind setting,” said the 25-year-old Bejino, a first time Paralympian who had the most number of events in Tokyo—100m backstroke, 200m individual medley, 50m butterfly and men’s 400m freestyle S6.