Guion to make second Paralympic stint

MANILA, Philippines — Three-time Asian Para Games powerlifting silver medalist Achele Guion will make her second Paralympic appearance as she has qualified to the Tokyo event slated Aug. 24 to Sept. 5 via bi-partite approval.

“Her (Guion) bi-partite approval just came out (Tuesday night). We now have a six-strong delegation,” said Philippine Tokyo Paralympics chef-de-mission Francis Diaz.

The 29-year-old Guion, whose impairment was caused by the effects of polio during childhood, joined swimming’s Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino, taekwondo’s Allain Ganapin and track and field’s Jerold Magliwan and Janette Acevedo in the quadrennial event.

It will be the second Paralympics appearance for Guion after her stint in the 2012 London edition where she placed sixth in the women’s -44-kilogram class.

The Manila-born Guion, who pursued a business management course at the Trinity University of Asia in Quezon City, packs a lot of international experiences including silver-medal feats in three straight Asian Para Games – 2010 in Guanzhou, China; 2014 in Incheon, South Korea and 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia. He also saw action in the 2017 World Championships in Mexico.

Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) president Mike Barredo, who is thankful to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for its full support to the national Para squad, is optimistic there would be more qualifiers.