SEN. Bong Go urged the country's bets to the 20th Asian Games and 5th Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, to double the Philippines' previous medal haul in the two competitions.
“We won four gold medals at the last Asian Games. Can we add to that? Is it possible? You should aim to double it,” Go said at the teams' send-off ceremony at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Philippines won four gold, two silver and 12 bronze medals, and finished 17th overall in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, recalled the Philippines’ historic men’s basketball gold medal finish in Hangzhou, which ended the country’s 62-year wait for an Asian Games basketball title.
“If we can do it in basketball, we can certainly do it in other sports as well,” he said.
Go highlighted Senate Bill 1743, approved by the Senate on third reading, which seeks to strengthen benefits and incentives for national athletes and coaches, including para-athletes.
“I strongly believe that our para-athletes deserve the same recognition and support that we give to our national athletes,” Go said.
The 20th Asian Games will be held from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4, followed by the 5th Asian Para Games from Oct. 18 to 24, also in Aichi-Nagoya.
“Bring to Nagoya not only your skills but also the heart and courage of every Filipino. Remember that you are not competing alone; the entire nation is behind you," Go told the delegation.
