Gawilan, Bantiloc flag-bearers sa 17th Paris Paralympic Games opening ceremony

VETERAN para swimmer Ernie Gawilan at para archer Agustina Bantiloc ay binigyan ng karangalan na maging flag bearer ng bansa sa grand outdoor opening ceremony sa Miyerkules ng 17th paralympic Games sa heritage-rich Champs-Elysées to Place de la Concorde sa Paris, France.

Kasama nila sa inaugural day parade pati ang para track and field athletes Jerold Mangliwan at Cendy Asusano,, para swimmer Angel Mae Otom at para taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin, ayon kay PH Paralympic team chef de mission Ral Rosario.

“We had several discussions about who will be the standard-bearers at the opening ceremony with the coaches and it was decided among us that Ernie and Tina (Bantiloc’s nickname) were the athletes to do it,” Wika ni Rosario mula sa French capital.

“Gawilan has been a bemedalled national para swimmer and role model for our para athletes over the years while Bantiloc is the country’s first para archer to qualify and represent the country at the Paralympic Games,” paliwanag niya tungkol sa palabas na suportado ng Philippine Sports Commission.

Bantiloc, ay natutuwa at nagpapasalamat na makasama ang celebrated Gawilan, na gold medalist sa nakaraang taon’ Hangzhou Asian Para Games, na dala dala ang bandila ng bansa sa festive opening rites.

“Siyempre proud and happy, of course. Makakatulong nang malaki sa akin,” Wika ni Bantiloc, na maging unang Filipino athlete na sasabak Huwebes sa women’s individual compound event sa Esplanade des Invalides archery range.

Binunyag ni Rosario na ang bansa ay binigyan ng 15 to 16 slots, sapat para sa boung delegation, ng Paris Paralympic Games organizers “but we received a message last Friday that our allotment was down to 10.”