Polio survivor Achele Guion will once again join the Philippine delegation after becoming the sixth Filipino para-athlete to qualify for the Tokyo Paralympic Games next month.
Philippine delegation chef de mission Kiko Diaz said he got confirmation on Guion’s status Tuesday evening.
“Just wanted to share the great news that para powerlifter Achele Guion is our 6th para-athlete to qualify for the Tokyo Paralympic Games,” said Diaz.
Diaz said Guion was given an allocation via the Bipartite Commission Invitation Allocation Method.
The allocation, according to the rules, is not based on ranking or performance in competition, given to athletes who have not had a chance to qualify through the regular route.
The 49-year-old Guion joins swimmer Gary Bejino, an amputee who lost his right arm and leg at age seven after he sustained an electric shock.
With them are right arm amputee Allain Ganapin (taekwondo), Jerold Magliwan and Janette Acevedo (athletics) and Ernie Gawilan (swimming).
Guion last joined an international meet three years ago.
Back then, Guion bagged a silver in the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta in the women’s -45kg event behind China’s Guo Lingling.