With 10 days remaining before the opening of the 5th Asian Para Games, Team Philippines is ramping up preparations for the continental competition set for Oct. 18-24 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The Philippines will send a 69-member delegation of athletes and officials to the 2026 Asian Para Games, with Francis “Kiko” Diaz serving as chef de mission.

The Philippine Sports Commission said the national delegation is expected to compete for medals and bring honor to the country at the multi-sport event.

Lhey Manginsay, a 23-year-old athlete from Zamboanga Sibugay, will serve as the Philippines’ flag bearer during the Games.

The country is targeting four to five gold medals, a more conservative goal compared with its previous double-digit haul due in part to the exclusion of para chess from this year’s program.

Diaz said the absence of para chess will have a significant impact on the Philippines’ medal campaign. Para chess provided a major boost to the country’s performance at the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, in 2023.

The Philippines finished ninth overall in Hangzhou with 19 medals, including five gold medals won by the para chess team.

Despite the loss of para chess from the competition lineup, Diaz remains optimistic that the Philippine delegation can still produce a strong showing in Japan.

“We’re looking at around four to five very bright potential to take home gold medals,” Diaz said.

The Philippine Sports Commission, meanwhile, urged Filipinos to rally behind the national para athletes as they prepare to compete against the best para athletes in Asia.