NAGOYA — The Philippines' push for a coveted gold at the 5th Asian Para Games gathers pace on Monday, with swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Angel Otom, cyclists Arthus Bucay and Patrick Lee, and lifter Alyana Nuñez leading a medal-starved Philippine campaign.

Mr. Gawilan, the lone Filipino gold medalist remaining from the Hangzhou edition three years ago, plunges back into action on Monday at the Rainbow Pool of the Nagoya City General Gymnasium. His bid carries the weight of the country's only title defense from that edition, with the delegation still chasing its first gold in Nagoya. He will be joined by the 23-year-old Ms. Otom, a triple gold winner at last year's ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, who is hoping to claim her breakthrough gold in Nagoya.

"Kapalaran na ang magsasabi bukas" ("Fate will decide tomorrow"), said the 35-year-old native of Paquibato, Davao City, who was born with underdeveloped legs.

On the bike, the 45-year-old Mr. Bucay, a Paralympian and former Asian Games gold winner, and the 21-year-old Mr. Lee, a bronze medalist at the Asian Para Track Championship in Tagaytay last March, will aim to bank qualifying points for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics — or deliver the country's first gold of the Games in this city facing the Pacific coast. Their results in Izu, in other words, will count toward more than the medal table in Japan.

Mr. Bucay is scheduled to race in the 1-kilometer individual time trial (ITT) on the track and the road race, while Mr. Lee will contest the 1-km ITT and individual pursuit on the track, plus the 15-km ITT and the 65-km road race. The cycling events are set at the Izu Velodrome and the Japan Cycle Sports Center in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, about a three-hour drive from Nagoya.

Also part of the squad is Nikko Peralta, who will compete in the 4-km pursuit road race and the ITT road event, hoping to pull off a surprise or two.

Despite some early setbacks, there were rays of hope in table tennis at the Sky Hall Toyota, where Lhey Manginsay and Billy Smith Cartera advanced to the quarterfinals and the Round of 16, respectively.

The 22-year-old Ms. Manginsay routed Tajikistan's Nadima Nurbekova, 11-9, 12-10, 11-1, in the women's singles Class 9, more than making up for a stinging 9-11, 10-12, 1-11 defeat to three-time Paralympic gold medalist Mao Jingdian of China last Friday.

Mr. Cartera, for his part, downed Mongolia's Myagmartsogt Purevdorj, 11-4, 11-2, 11-1, to reach the Round of 16 in the men's singles Class 4-5. After falling to world No. 5 Zhengyang Peng of China in his first outing, he seeks a quarterfinals seat against Thailand's Norakan Chanphaka on Monday.

The Games were officially ushered in last night amid the grand lights of the athletic stadium of the Paloma Mizuho Sports Park. 5,000 Japanese and foreign guests, athletes, coaches, sports officials, and media attended the festivities, which gave spectators a showcase of Japanese history as the eight-day event formally opened, bringing together 45 countries — including a 69-strong Philippine side — battling for glory across 18 sports disciplines. With the ceremony complete, the focus now shifts from the stadium lights to the pools, courts and roads where the Philippine gold chase will be decided over the days ahead.

The Philippine athletes joined the parade in Filipiñana attire, led by flag-bearers Ms. Manginsay and taekwondo's Allain Ganapin, along with Chef de Mission Francis Diaz and Deputy Chef de Mission Judd Anastacio.

— Joey Villar

Source: BusinessWorld