12 PHL athletes compete in Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai

Flag of the Philippines (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, PUBLIC DOMAIN)

MANILA— Twelve Filipino athletes arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday to compete in the 3rd Asian Youth Para Games.

The tournament, which will run from December 10 to 14, will be held in various venues in the capital city of Dubai.

The members of the team are Ma.

Cielo Honasan, Rosalia Abapo, and Anthony Peralta (athletics); Anthony Dela Cruz Jr. (badminton); Lois Matthew Lontiong (boccia); Rommel Lucencio and Neo Angelo Laudato (table tennis); and Edwin Villanueva, Patrick Rodel Crisostomo, Adrian Azul, Claire Calizo, and Judy Anne Neblasca (swimming).

The athletes are accompanied by Team Philippines head of delegation, Francis Cruz Diaz, Philippine Sports Association for the Differently-Abled (Philspada) president Michael Barredo and coaches Bernard Buen (track), Joel Nebrida (high/long jump), Mary Grace Ladlad, and Octavio Gonzales (badminton), Antonio Ong and Gerardo Rosario (swimming), and Louise Mark Eballa (table tennis).

More than 700 athletes from 30 countries are expected to compete in the tournament under the auspices of the Asian Paralympic Committee.

The first Asian Youth Para Games took place in Tokyo, Japan in 2009. The tournament was next held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2013.