Para table tennis athlete Lhey Marie Manginsay has been chosen to carry the Philippine flag during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai on Dec. 10. The ceremony will be held at the Dubai Club for People of Determination Stadium, with competitions running through Dec. 14.

Manginsay, a native of Zamboanga Sibugay, has emerged as one of the country’s fastest-rising para athletes. She delivered a breakthrough performance at the 2025 ITTF World Para Future Taipei in Taiwan last June, capturing the Philippines’ lone gold medal in the mixed doubles class XD17-Group 1 alongside Jan Wildfreed Redulla.

Rising star carries hopes of Filipino para athletes

Last year, Manginsay made waves by defeating a national team player to win the singles gold medal at the 8th Philippine National Para Games, while also adding two silver medals to her haul. Her remarkable performances have earned her the honor of being the flag bearer for Team Philippines.

“I’m grateful for being chosen as the flag bearer for Team Philippines,” said Manginsay in Filipino. “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 dreams of being in this position someday.”

Team Philippines aims to build on past success

Manginsay is one of four Filipino para table tennis players and part of the 48-player delegation competing in nine of the 11 sports. The 2025 Asian Youth Para Games feature approximately 1,500 para athletes from 35 Asian countries.

The Philippines hopes to maintain or surpass its previous performance in 2021 in Manama, Bahrain, where the team collected one gold, six silver, and two bronze medals. Classification for para sports began Dec. 7 and will continue until Dec. 9, preparing athletes for the start of competition on Dec. 10.