Filipino para-table tennis athlete Ramces Emmanuel Tuala delivered an impressive showing on December 10 at the Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai, winning both of his matches in the U23 Men’s Singles – Class 8 division. He first defeated Iran’s Ramazani Arsham and later secured another win against Singapore’s Low Jayden, ending the opening day with a 2–0 record and positioning himself among the Philippines’ strongest performers so far.
Before competition officially began, the Philippine delegation held a courtesy call with Consul General Ambrosio Brian Enciso III and Vice Consul Jim Jimeno at the Philippine Consulate in Dubai. Representing the Philippine Paralympic Committee were Mr. Mike Barredo (President) and Mr. Goody Custodio (Secretary General), while the Philippine Sports Commission delegation included Atty. Erik Jean Mayores, Ms. Anna Faye Lee, Ms. Liezl de Luna, and Ms. Emmalyn Bamba.
The meeting focused on the country’s participation in the Games, engagement with the large Filipino community in Dubai, and assistance the Consulate will extend to the delegation, including promoting Team Philippines’ matches during the event.
Tuala is part of a Philippine contingent competing across athletics, boccia, goalball, wheelchair basketball, table tennis, swimming, archery, badminton and powerlifting, as the Asian Youth Para Games welcomed more than 1,500 athletes from over 35 countries. He is listed on the official roster alongside Vroxzield Barge Cabañero and Zidrex Dela Cruz in para-table tennis under the country’s youth para-sports program.
Several Filipino athletes began their campaigns on a packed first-day schedule, including Daniella Catacutan and John Loyd Villaroya, along with the women’s and men’s goalball teams. The wheelchair basketball squad also took on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in their initial matches.
Branded under the theme “Born to Rise,” the Dubai 2025 Games are considered the biggest edition to date and provide a major international platform for young para-athletes aiming to build experience early in their sporting careers.
