Dumapong-Ancheta grateful for surge in Para Sport support

MANILA, Philippines — Support for Para Sports came late for Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta— yet she is anything but ungrateful.

Dumapong-Ancheta, who made history during the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games after brining home the Philippines' first paralympic medal, went through a number of challenges in her life as a para-athlete.

The 45-year-old powerlifter has been through a lot, experiencing scarcity of funds and lack of proper equipment and traning during her early days.

"Support for para sports was almost non-existent. If there was any... it was given more of as a token of charity" she said during her speech at the 10th ASEAN Para Games kick off in Novotel Cubao.

Despite the challenges, Dumapong-Ancheta would keep on winning internationally and her success led to conversations about para sports and the possibility of a Filipino para-athlete later on.

These conversations eventually led to organizations like the Philippine Sports Assocation for the Differently Abled - National Paralympic Committee, now known as the Philippine Paralympic Committee, spearheading the development of para sports in the country.

With the Philippines getting ready to host the ASEAN Para Games in January 2020, Dumapong-Ancheta is happy that para-athletes are receiving the support they need.

'Look at all the support'

"These are exciting times... look at all the support. Meron nang mga organizations who are giving sponsorships sa mga atleta. Isn't that great? Nakakatuwa" she said in an interview.

Apart from the monetary support received, Dumapong-Ancheta also thinks that para-athletes are now more included than before.

"Makikita mo ang kamalayan ng Pilipino sa pagtanggap ng mga taong may kapansanan lumalawak... [na] ang palakasan ay hindi lang para sa mga taong walang kapansanan kundi kasama rin kami duon" she said. 

Ahead of the ASEAN Para Games, Dumapong-Ancheta has only one goal in mind: make for a more inclusive society through para sports.