Veteran discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda will no longer compete in the ongoing 2020 Tokyo Paralympics after testing positive for COVID-19.
The Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) on Sunday said that she and coach Bernard Buen were found to have contracted the virus after undergoing the mandatory daily saliva antigen test, followed by a confirmatory RT-PCR test
“We are sad to share the news that our para-athletic discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda and her coach Bernard Buen tested positive for COVID-19,” the committee lamented in a statement.
Aceveda would have seen action on August 31, but that won’t happen anymore. She and her mentor “will be brought to an outside quarantine facility in compliance with the said Playbook,” according to the PPC.
It was supposed to be the Paralympic debut of the 50-year-old fielder, who qualified after meeting the minimum qualifying standard as well as the minimum entry slot of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
“Jeanette is greatly disappointed that she will have to withdraw from her event scheduled for 31 August 2021,” the PPC said.
Still, Aceveda, a two-time ASEAN Para Games gold medalist, hopes for another shot at representing the country in the prestigious meet in the future.
“Although she would not be able to fulfill her dream to compete in the Paralympics and represent the Philippines, Jeanette still hopes there will be more chances for her to make this come true in the future,” said the PPC.
This is now the second time that Team Pilipinas has been hit with COVID.
Para-powerlifter Achelle Guion and coach Tony Taguibao were not able to join the delegation to Tokyo after testing positive for the virus.
The country has yet to win a medal in the Paralympiad, although wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan; taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin; and swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino still have a chance to do so.
And the PPC is optimistic that the remaining para-athletes will carry the fight. “Notwithstanding this setback, our Para-athletes are more determined than ever for a chance to achieve Paralympic success and glory for our country.”
