Filipina discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda bid her Tokyo Paralympics stint goodbye after she tested positive for the coronavirus, the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) announced on Sunday, August 29.

Aceveda, who is already in Japan, and her coach Bernard Buen tested positive for COVID-19 following a series of saliva antigen and confirmatory RT-PCR tests at the Tokyo Paralympic Village.

The two will be brought to an outside quarantine facility.

“Jeanette is greatly disappointed that she will have to withdraw from her event scheduled for 31 August 2021,” PPC president Michael Barredo wrote in a statement.

The first visually impaired Filipino to qualify for the Paralympics, Aceveda becomes the second para athlete from the Philippines to test positive for the virus after para powerlifter Achelle Guion.

Her positive result slashed the initial six-man Filipino delegation in Tokyo to just four para athletes.

“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,” Barredo said.

Still in the running for medals in Tokyo are para swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, and para taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin.

“Notwithstanding this setback, our para athletes are more determined than ever for a chance to achieve Paralympic success and glory for our country,” Barredo said. – Rappler.com