Bejino sets Team Philippine’s paralympic bid in motion

MANILA, Philippines — Swimmer Gary Bejino opens the country’s campaign in the Tokyo Paralympic Games as he plunges into action in the first of his four events at the Tokyo Aquatics Center.

The 25-year-old Bejino, who lost his right arm and left leg after a childhood accident, is scheduled to compete in the men’s 200-meter individual medley SM6 at 8:27 a.m. (Philippine time).

The 2015 Singapore ASEAN Para Games gold medalist and 2018 Jakarta Asian Para Games silver medal winner will also vie in the 50m butterfly S6 Monday, 400m freestyle S6 on Sept. 2 and 100m backstroke S6 on Sept. 3.

Bejino, tanker Ernie Gawilan, wheelchair racer Jerold Mangliwan, discus thrower Jeannette Aceveda and taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin eye to match, if not improve on a bronze-medal performance delivered by table tennis’ Josephine Medina in the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

They also hope to ride the momentum of the country’s historic performance in the Tokyo Games where Hidilyn Diaz delivered a breakthrough golden feat in weightlifting with boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam adding a silver each and another pug Eumir Marcial a bronze.

“Alam ko po hindi madali, pero gagawin po namin lahat ng aming makakaya para sa bansa natin,” said Bejino.

Gawilan and Mangliwan, the flag bearer in Tuesday night’s opening ceremony, will start waging battle tomorrow with the former racing in the 200m IM SM7 and the latter in the 400m T52.

Gawilan is also participating in the 400m free S7 Sunday and the 100m back Monday.