HANGZHOU, China — It’s not the biggest stage in the world but one-armed taekwondo bet Alain Ganapin swears he would still be going all-out when he competes in the 4th Hangzhou Asian Games.
Ganapin was supposed to participate in the Tokyo Para Games but he tested positive for Covid-19 just days before his schedule.
“What we experienced in Tokyo was no joke because we missed competing. This is the reason why we became emotional,” Ganapin said with personal coach Gershon Bautista by his side.
Ganapin earned a trip here after winning the 70-kilogram division during a qualification tournament in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates last year.
Bautista said that the athlete has not only been undergoing rigorous training the last three months at the Philippine Taekwondo Association Central Gym inside the Rizal Memorial Sports CoComplex, but also intense physical conditioning for this meet.
“He is much better than compared to three months ago. He has also given trouble to able-bodied members of the national team,” said Bautista, noting that one of them is reigning Southeast Asian Games champion Samuel Morrison.
