Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
(C) Team PH Para Games

2033 SEA Games

ASEAN Para Games: Gawilan, Sabido, Asusano power PH’s three-gold haul


Swimming delivered the country’s first pair of gold medals in the 11th ASEAN Para Games Monday as Ernie Gawilan and Roland Sabido splashed their way to the top of their respective events at the Jatadiri Sports Complex pool in the neighboring city of Semarang.

Comely thrower Cendy Asusano added the third gold in early morning action in ruling the women’s javelin throw F54 at the Manahan Stadium here for a promising start for the PH para-athletes, a majority of them competing for the first time since the 2017 edition of the meet held in Malaysia.

A triple gold medalist in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Para Games, Gawilan kicked off the Philippine campaign by ruling the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 in a time of four minutes and 54.87 seconds in the outing sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Then Sabido and Arnel Aba led a 1-2 finish in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S9 in clocking 5:09.40 and 5:14.13, respectively, much to the delight of the small Pinoy crowd at the pool led by Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo.

“Naging maganda po ang swim ko sa unang event. Sana magtuloy-tuloypo ito,” said Gawilan, 31, who won a pair of golds and silvers in the regional meet for para athletes held in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur five years ago.

The Davao City pride was aiming for another mint as he was scheduled to compete in the 4×100 meter freestyle relays 34 points in the afternoon with Sabido, Aba and Edwin Villanueva, who copped a bronze medal in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S8. “Masaya po ako kasi hindi ko aakalain na makukuha ko yung ginto sa unang bato pa lang,” said Asusano, who settled the issue with her heave of 13.72 meters on the first attempt.

#ReadMore  Bowler Kim Chi bags Team Pilipinas' 2nd gold

Also contributing a bronze medal each for athletics were Joel Balatucan, Daniel Enderes Jr., Armand Dino and Jesebel Tordecilla in the men’s shot put F55, men’s 5,00-meter T20 race, men’s 100-meter T47 race, and women’s discus throw F55, respectively.

Overnight, table tennis also made its modest medal contribution with two bronze medals in the men’s team Class 4 through Billy Cartera, Racleo Martinez and Darwin Salvacion and men’s class 8 doubles courtesy of Jobert Lumanta and Jayson Ocampo.

Counting the silver in men’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball last Sunday, the Filipinos now boast an early overall medal tally of three gold, two silver and seven bronze medals.

More medals were expected to come in the afternoon in swimming, track and field and powerlifting, where two-time Asian Para Games silver medalist Achelle Guion is vying in the women’s 46-kilogram division.

Among those likewise expected to figure prominently for gold are wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, who will see action in the men’s 100-meter dash T52, and Jeannete Aceveda in the women’s discus throw F11-13 plusAngel Otom in the women’s 50-meter backstroke S5.

The country’s standard-bearers aim to surpass the haul of 20 gold, 20 silver and29 bronze medals, good for fifth overall, of the country in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur in 2017.

Written By


You May Also Like

4th Asian Para Games

Veteran para swimmer Ernie Gawilan achieved the coveted golden breakthrough for Team Philippines last Tuesday night, retaining the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 crown in...

12th ASEAN Para Games

The Philippines rode on Angel Otom’s brilliance as it unleashed a nine-gold juggernaut on Wednesday, hiking its total to 27 gold medals in the...

12th ASEAN Para Games

Team Pilipinas secured three additional gold medals, two of which were obtained in swimming, during the 12th ASEAN Para Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia...

12th ASEAN Para Games

A battle-scarred swimming duo, a tested thrower, and a glory-seeking powerlifter put on a magnificent show to fuel the Philippines’ early gold rush in...

2021 SEA Games

After Angel Otom’s treble in swimming, FIDE Master Sander Severino racked up his fourth gold medal in the ongoing 11th ASEAN Para Games in...

2021 SEA Games

Angel Otom bagged two more gold medals, including one in record-breaking time, to emerge as the country’s first triple gold medalist as the Philippine...

2021 SEA Games

After a rush of eight golds overnight, Filipino para-athletes struggled Wednesday, mustering a lone gold courtesy of thrower Cendy Asusano in the women’s shot...

2033 SEA Games

Ariel Joseph Alegarbes made a splashing debut in the 11th ASEAN Para Games Tuesday, capturing two gold medals in record-breaking style at the Jatidiri...

Advertisement