THE Cebu-based Philippine Accessible Disability Services (PADS) Adaptive Dragonboat Racing Team will try and defend their title in the International Paradragon Championships Dragonboat Carnival in Hong Kong this weekend.
The squad, made up of differently abled athletes, will be competing in the regular division.
This year’s Dragonboat Carnival is considered one of the biggest international dragonboat racing events in the world, with more than 100 local and international teams from Europe, North America, USA, and Middle East and Asian countries. An estimated 5,000 paddlers will try to out-paddle everyone else in the Central Harbourfront in Hong Kong from June 22 to 24.
The PADS Team is the first and only cross-disability dragonboat team in the Philippines who became champions in their first international competition held in Naga City, Cebu last year. The team is headed by team captain, Arnold Balais, who is a multi-awarded Paralympian and swimmer.
The team trains under the guidance of a former Philippine Dragonboat National Pioneering Team member, Coach Ailene Padrones, assisted by Cebuano coach Christian Ian Sy.
The team is confident about their chances because they have prepared long and hard for this title defense.
“We are confident of our chances because we trained hard.We sacrificed a lot for this tournament, including time, effort and money. We start training at 4:30 a.m. every day and train again later in the day. Twice a day for the last six weeks,” said Sy.
Sy added that some of their members travels to the city every day for training. Some come as far as Liloan in the north, Naga in the south and Cordova town.
The PADS team also tapped a team of Sport Physiologists and Physical Therapists headed by Lyza Venice and Ino Daral for this race.
Venice said that they have used a more advanced training program compared to last year.
Aside from defending their title, PADS Team also aims to at least complete a podium finish in the other international categories.
In a press conference yesterday in Quest Hotel, Team Manager JP Maunes said that some of their team members are senior athletes who display the same strength as the younger athletes.
He is hoping that their story will urge more Filipinos with disabilities to come out and assert their right to participate in sports and rehabilitation. He also wants local government units, government agencies, and the private sector to work together in establishing efficient sport programs that will help develop more competitive, differently abled athletes, in the hope that people will look at their abilities instead of their disabilities.
The team also seeks support from all the Filipinos spiritually and financially.
Maunes ended with their team quote, “Our combined disabilities are our strength.” PADS Team members are set to fly today to Hong Kong. (Minsey Lumangyao, CNU Intern)