BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Trackster Archand Bagsit is hoping to achieve more when he sees action as A ‘para’ athlete that will seek a berth to the Tokyo Paralympics rescheduled next year.
Bagsit, however, needs to participate in the qualifiers not only to meet the standards but also to confirm his classification. He is classified in the Low Vision T-12.
Bagsit, 29, said he has been partially impaired visually since he was a kid, but still managed to compete in regular events.
He was part of the PH team that owns the men’s 4x100m relay mark. Other members are Eric Cray, Anfernee Lopena and Trenten Beram.
He only thought of having himself classified in the para team after being removed from the PH squad in 2018.
“Meron po akong isang coach sa para athletics na dati ko ding teammate sa regular na nagsabi na try ko daw magpa-classify for the para team,” said Bagsit.
“Siguro dati nahihiya sila sa akin na sabihin yan pero ang sabi ko naman sa kanila, wala naman akong ikinahihiya dahil hindi ko din naman ito ginusto na may disabilities ako. Kaya dun nag-umpisa ang lahat.”
Bagsit was supposed to have his first para competition in the 2019 ASEAN Paragames that the country was hosting, only to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
At the Paragames, he was lined up in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay.
Bagsit said this is the career path he wants to take now.
“Sana po talaga mag-qualify ako sa Paralympics,” he said.
“Kasi po minsan lang ang opportunity na dumating kaya iga-grab ko na. Masaya ang feeling ko kasi kahit na mawala po ako sa regular (team), merong door na nagbukas para sakin.”
So far, para swimmer Ernie Gawilan is qualified to the Tokyo Paragames, while table tennis player Josephine Medina is an outright alternate.
