PARALYMPIAN Ernie Gawilan lost a chance to show his winning act before his countrymen following the cancellation of the 10th Asean Para Games.
But the 29-year-old who won for the Philippines its first Asian Para Games gold medal in Jakarta two years ago that complimented his participation in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Paralympics, said life, sporting life for that matter, must go on.
“It’s fine with me,” said the pride of the Island Garden City of Samal, who could have anticipated the cancellation of the Games the country was supposed to host at a third rescheduled date of October 3 to 9.
“Lives are far more important than holding the Games,” he said.
The Covid-19 pandemic caused the Games’ cancellation after the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) decided to re-channel its P400 million funding to the war against the virus.
Last Friday, the Asean Para Sports Federation officially called off the 10th edition of the Games with APSF President Osoth Bhavilai making the annoucement in a letter to all National Paralympic committee heads of the region.
Gawilan is the country’s top prospect in the Asean Para Games. He won three gold medals—400m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 200 individual medley—in Jakarta 2018 and has in his collection seven gold medals from the Asean Para Games—three from Napyitaw 2015 and two each from Singapore 2015 and Kuala Lumpur 2015.
In Rio 2016, Gawilan competed in the 400-meter and 100-meter free and 100-meter back but didn’t make the podium. He, however, is bound for his second Paralympics in Tokyo, having qualified in the 400-meter free S6— short stature, major limb impairment or loss in two limbs—event.
Gawilan said that athletes like him are built to endure a tough beating that now includes the negative effects of the coronavirus.
“As an athlete, it is important that we have a strong mind. We should not be carried away by the situation and must remain focused on moving forward,” Gawilan told BusinessMirror. “The challenges could rise from any direction. This time, it’s in the form of a virus pandemic.”
The Asean Para Games was not the only major sporting event shut down by the pandemic. The PSC also called off all competitions, including the Philippine National Games and Batang Pinoy.
The fate of this year’s Para Games is up for discussion by the APSF, but there are indications the 10th edition could be called off because it would overlap with Vietnam’s hosting of the Games—alongside the 31st SEA Games—in 2021.
“The APSF would now be taking further steps to hold a virtual APSF Board of Governors Meeting soon to facilitate discussion on the cancellation and the necessary steps moving forward,” Bhavilai said.
The Philippines was supposed to host the Para Games in the same clusters used for the 30th SEA Games—Clark, Subic and Metro Manila—but the major sports complexes, including the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, were transformed into quarantine facilities.
The Philippines was supposed to host at least 18 sports for the 10th Asean Para Games, that were already imperiled as early as March when Malacañang sought the Athletes’ Village at the New Clark City, the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City and the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila as quarantine centers.
The Para Games were to be staged in the same venues used for the 30th SEA Games in Clark, Subic and Metro Manila.
Gawilan, like everybody else, couldn’t train in conventional manner and has to improvise by staying in shape indoors.
“But, I really miss the water,” he admitted.
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