Dubai: Table tennis athlete Lhey Marie Manginsay has been selected to carry the Philippine flag during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Dec. 10. The opening ceremony will take place at the Dubai Club for People of Determination Stadium.
According to Philippines News Agency, Manginsay, a native of Zamboanga Sibugay, garnered attention with her achievement at the 2025 ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) World Para Future Taipei in Taiwan last June. She secured the country's sole gold medal in the mixed doubles class XD17-Group 1 alongside Jan Wildfreed Redulla. Her performance marked a significant milestone in her career and highlighted her as a talented athlete in the para table tennis circuit.
In the previous year, Manginsay made headlines by defeating a national team player to win the singles gold medal at the 8th Philippine National Para Games. She also earned two silver medals, further establishing her as a formidable competitor in the sport.
Manginsay expressed her sentiments in a news release, stating, "This is not just an honor, but a responsibility because as a flag-bearer, I am also carrying the hopes and stories of every Filipino para athlete, especially the youth who dream of being in this position someday."
The Philippine delegation for the games comprises 48 members, including four para table tennis players. They will compete in nine out of the 11 sports featured in the event. Approximately 1,500 para athletes from 35 Asian countries are expected to participate in this fifth edition of the games. The Filipino team aims to surpass their previous achievement of one gold, six silver, and two bronze medals, which they earned in the 2021 edition held in Bahrain.
