Kitan boosts Baguio bid in 2nd PhilSpada

POWERLIFTERS grabbed the limelight for Baguio City by snatching four gold medals and three bronze in the ongoing 2nd PhilSpada National Paralympic Open at the San Luis Educational, Cultural and Sport Village in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Agustin Kitan made a remarkable 160 kg lift to record another feat for Baguio in their medal haul of the event which started March 16 and ends today, March 23 where the city already snared an initial haul of 12 gold, five silver and six bronze medals.

Clover Laoyan, Abraham Sakiwat and Tina Bantiloc were the other gold medallist in power lifting while the bronze medalists include Rufino Humilan, Roger Colas and Abdon Kilongan.

City Sports Coordinator Gaudencio Gonzales said that Baguio has accounted more gold medals than the other local government units as of press time Friday.

Laoyan added two more golds in shot-put and javelin while Sakiwat also contributed gold also in javelin.

Colas and Kilongan also gave Baguio two more silvers in javelin aside from the two bronze medals from Humilan and Luis from the same event.

Swimmer Isidro Luis snared three gold medals for Baguio as he topped the 100-meter freestyle, 100-meter backstroke and 50-meter freestyle.

The medal haul is expected to increase, as other paralympians will compete for the finals at the close of the tournament.

More than 600 participants are competing in the tournament organized by the Philippine Sports Association for the Differently-Abled National Paralympic Committee of the Philippines (PhilSPADA-NPC Philippines) and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

The tournament aims to tap fresh talents for future international competitions for a first ever gold medal in the Paralympics.

A total of 550 athletes competed last year at the Marikina Sports and Leisure Park.

Events on tap are athletics, basketball, swimming, chess, badminton, bowling, table tennis, power lifting and goalball which were the same sports competed in the 1st PSC-Philspada National Games last year. Tennis, cycling and boccia will also be played as demonstration sports. (Roderick Osis)