PH para athletes aim high against Asia’s best

MANILA, Philippines — With modest expectations and hopeful hearts, Team Philippines braces for tougher challenges in the super-strong field of the 5th Asian Para Games, which will open on Sunday night under the bright lights of the Paloma Mizuho Sports Park in Nagoya, Japan. Around 5,000 Japanese and foreign guests, athletes, coaches, sports officials, and media attended the festivities, which gave spectators a piece of Japanese history that officially ushered in this eight-day event that will have 45 countries, including the 69-strong Philippine side, battling for glory in 18 sports disciplines. Athletes from the Philippines, headed by flag-bearers Lhey Manginsay of table tennis and Allain Ganapin of taekwondo, along with chef-de-mission Francis Diaz and deputy CDM Judd Anastacio, will join the parade in Filipiniana attire and proudly marched with joy and optimism for a better tomorrow. Maginsay came into the inaugurals riding the crest of an 11-9, 12-10, 11-1 victory over Tajikistan’s Nadima Nurbekova in the women’s singles class 9 in table tennis at the Sky Hall Toyota the day before. Whatever happens, Manginsay will make the quarterfinals since there are only eight…