ALLAIN GANAPIN got his second chance to compete in the Paralympics after earning a spot to the quadrennial games via taekwondo’s Asian Qualification Tournament in Tai’an, China on Sunday.
All the 25-year-old native of Marikina City, whose right arm is amputated due to a congenital disorder, needed to claim a spot to the quadrennial event was to turn back Indian Sandeep Singh Maan, 25-13, in their men’s K44 -80-kilogram duel.
Mr. Ganapin thus joined tankers Angel Otom and Ernie Gawilan to the Paris meet where he would have a chance to realize his Paralympic dream.
Messrs. Otom and Gawilan made it through via the Minimum Qualifying Standard with the two plunging into action in the 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley in their respective classes.
Mr. Ganapin actually qualified in the last edition in Tokyo, Japan three years ago but he never got to see action after testing positive for COVID-19.
He will have an opportunity again. — Joey Villar