The Philippines will be fielding a lean 48-athlete delegation seeking nothing less than making the country proud in the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games from 7 to 14 December in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Nationals will be competing across nine sports, with goalball sending 12 para athletes — six in the men’s division and six in the women’s side — followed by athletics with 10.

Seven Filipino para swimmers will also be participating, as well as four each in powerlifting, table tennis, and wheelchair basketball; three in badminton, and two each in boccia and archery.

Milette Santiago-Bonoan, the national team’s chief of mission, expressed confidence in the delegation’s potential in this premier youth para-sport event, which aims to develop the next generation of Asian para-athletes and provide them with valuable international exposure.

“I’m just glad that they have the opportunity to compete at this level,” Santiago-Bonoan said.

“They have the heart to represent the country in any way they can.”

She added that the team’s participation hopes to encourage more institutions to further embrace inclusivity in their sports programs.

“Sports build character and self-esteem. These kinds of events are important for these kids because they give them hope and confidence. It inspires them to be better, so this tournament matters so much,” Santiago-Bonoan said.

In the previous edition held in Manama, Bahrain, the national team brought home one gold medal courtesy of para swimmer Ariel Joseph Alegarbes, along with six silvers and two bronzes across swimming, athletics and table tennis.

Alegarbes has since moved up to the senior level, winning medals in the ASEAN Para Games and representing the country at the World Para Swimming Championships this year.

Other former Filipino medalists in the Asian Youth Para Games include multiple ASEAN Para Games gold medalist and Paralympian swimmer Angel Otom; fellow Paralympian swimmer Gary Bejino; and para-table tennis players Linard Sultan and Mary Eloise Sable, who each won medals in separate doubles events at the ITTF World Para Future Tournament in Chinese Taipei last June.