PH’s powerlifting icon qualifies for 2021 Paralympics

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Former 2012 London Paralympian Achele Guion will have another chance to clinch that coveted gold medal after qualifying once again for the most prestigious sporting event in Tokyo.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed Guion’s formal inclusion to the upcoming 2021 Paralympics.

Guion will compete in the women’s 41kg event from August 24 to September 5 and is already excited to set foot in the limelight once again after nine years.

Philippines’ chef de mission to the Tokyo Paralympics Francis Diaz expressed how happy and grateful he is with the number of paralympians qualified for the event, emphasizing that these athletes worked hard to be where they are right now.

Guion will be joining Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino of para swimming, Jerold Magliwan and Janete Aceveda of para athletics, and Allain Ganapin of para taekwondo.

“Definitely happy and excited with this lean delegation. Each and every para athlete committed to their best and hopefully land a medal for our country,” said Diaz.

Guion once dominated the Asian Para Games way back in 2014 and 2018 where she would collect silver medals in the 45kg event of the competition.