POWERLIFTER Achelle Guion qualified for the Tokyo Paralympic Games after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) approved her bipartite application on Tuesday, according to Tokyo Paralympics Chef de Mission Francis "Kiko" Diaz.

"We are definitely happy and excited with this lean delegation," Diaz, Dean of the College of Human Kinetics of the University of the Philippines, told BusinessMirror on Wednesday. "Each and every para athlete is committed to do their best and hopefully land a medal for our country."

Guion, a veteran of the London 2012 Paralympics, will be competing in the women's 41-kg class of powerlifting in the August 24 to September 5 Tokyo Games.

The 49-year-old powerlifter from Manila joined Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino (swimming), Jerold Magliwan and Janete Aceveda (athletics) and Allain Ganapin (taekwondo) on Team Philippines.

The delegation surpassed the five para athletes at Rio 2016 where Josephine Medina bagged a bronze medal in women's table tennis.

Diaz said all athletes have a chance to win a medal in Tokyo.  
"While we can't predict and most certainly assure medals from them, our best bets could Ernie (Gawilan) and Jerold (Magliwan)," said Diaz, who thanked the Philippine Sports Commission headed by Chairman William Ramirez for extending all-out support to the para athletes.

Guion was a silver medalist in the Incheon 2014 and Jakarta 2018 Asian Para Games in the 45-kg class.

Read full article on BusinessMirror