Severino ponders move in Para Games

PHNOM PENH – Sitting on his wheelchair while contemplating on his next move during one of the team’s training sessions at the Sports Village of the vast Morodok Techo Sports Complex here, Sander Severino was as calm as a cucumber with chess action in the 12th ASEAN Para Games action here just a few days away.

Unknown to the opposition, Severino, the most bemedalled Filipino athlete in last year’s edition in Surakarta, Indonesia where he scooped up four gold medals, was just patiently waiting to unleash his wrath.

“Wala pa akong nararamdaman,” the meek former world champion for people with physical disabilities who was diagnosed with muscle dystrophy at a young age yesterday told The STAR.

“Focus lang ako sa goal,” he added with a tiny smirk on his face.

Meanwhile, the country will open its campaign with its gold-seeking wheelchair basketball team clashing with Indonesia in 3x3 action today at the Elephant Hall 1 here.

The Filipinos, who took the silver medal last year, will battle the Indonesians at 10 a.m.

It will be followed by games against Cambodia (2 p.m.), Thailand (4:30 p.m.) and Malaysia (6 p.m.).

The women’s squad, for its part, faces off with Laos (1:30 p.m.), host Cambodia (3:30 p.m.) and Malaysia (6 p.m.).