Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - The first group of Vallarta athletes selected to represent the state of Jalisco in the 2016 National Paralympics set out Sunday for Acapulco with the ambitious goal of winning eight gold medals.

This was stated by the coach of the team, Erika Ramirez Santillan, who explained that the group is composed of eight athletes who passed the state qualifiers to join the other athletes that are representing the State of Jalisco.

The 2016 National Paralympics will be held in Acapulco, Guerrero, from June 8-16, with the participation of about 3,500 athletes with disabilities.

Eight Puerto Vallarta athletes qualified. The first stage of competition will be held from June 8 to 11 and on those days PV athletes with intellectual disabilities: Matus Leslie Cordova, Guadalupe Flores Ramos and Galilee will compete in athletics; Antuán Sade Medellin in swimming; and little Perla Samanta and April Guadalupe in the wheelchair athletics competition.

From June 13 to 15 the next group of Vallarta athletes will start to compete: María Saraí and Fernando Barrientos in athletics, and Emilia González in swimming.

"Last year we had four gold medals in swimming (won by Emilia González); one silver in power lifting and two bronzes in table tennis and shooting. Although Yesenia Colmenares and Chayito Pelayo can no longer compete because they exceed the maximum age of 21 years, we are being ambitious, but that's sport, we want to double: 8 gold is the prognosis we hope to achieve, in addition to silver and bronze medals," Erika Santillan said.

It should be noted that Jalisco is the Paralympics national champion. Last year they succeeded in keeping the title by a narrow margin. This year, Puerto Vallarta's athletes hope to contribute in re-validating the state's right to hold the national title.

Erika Santillan said one Vallarta athlete, Fernando Barrientos, is a quadriplegic and therefore allowed to have a personal assistant. "The Municipal Sport Council has always supported us. This time they will provide a van to take us to the CODE facilities in Guadalajara, but being that the competitions are in the state of Guerrero, some athletes will be sent by air, as in the case for Fernando Barrientos and his personal assistant. The others will join the rest of the Jalisco delegation on three buses."