I think Ernie deserves to be the torchbearer as he has done a lot for the country in the past years.

ERNIE Gawilan takes the Tokyo Olympics job as torch bearer.

Asian Para Games gold medalist Ernie Gawilan is joining the 2020 Tokyo Olympics slated from 24 July to 9 August next year but in a different capacity.

The 28-year old Filipino swimmer was named the torchbearer of the Summer Games, giving the country another honor with this feat.

“We learned the news a few days ago and I think Ernie deserves to be the torchbearer as he has done a lot for the country in the past years,” national Para swimming team coach Tony Ong told Daily Tribune yesterday.

“He bagged lots of medals and honors for the country and being the torchbearer for the Olympics made his sacrifices all worth it,” he added.

Gawilan was the country’s first-ever gold medalist in the Asian Para Games, a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with physical disabilities, held last year in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Davao City native is a proud owner of three golds, two silvers and three bronze medals for the prestigious Asian Para Games and seven golds, two silvers and two bronze medals in the Asean Para Games.

“We are very proud for Ernie’s achievement and I know that everyone in the country is proud too,” the mentor bared.

Ong added that Gawilan will definitely use the only slot of the country in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and will compete in the 400-meter freestyle event.

“He’s already going there for the torchbearer duties so might as well give him the chance to play in the Olympics as he’s also qualified to do so,” Ong said.

The national team will fly to Singapore this April for the World Series to give other team members to qualify for the Tokyo Paralympics.