The Philippines has finally taken that elusive gold in the Asian Para Games.
Swimmer Ernie Gawilan bagged gold in the Men’s 200M Individual Medley SM7, Sunday evening at the GBK Aquatic Centre in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Gawilan, who competed in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio, clocked in at 2:52.3 in the event. He was 3.47 seconds ahead of Chinese Taipei’s Chen Liang-da. India’s Jadhav Suyash Narayan finished in third place.
The 27-year-old later on took silver in the Men’s 50M Freestyle S7 event, clocking in at 31.93 seconds. It was 2.92 seconds behind Toh Wei Soong in Singapore. Jadhav Suyash Narayan ended up as third once again with a time of 32.16.
Gawilan, a native of Davao City, was born with underdeveloped extremities resulting in him lacking both legs and an underdeveloped left limb.
Gawilan’s teammate Gary Bejino ended up with bronze in the Men’s 100M Backstroke S6, clocking in at 01:28.54 – five seconds ahead of fourth-placer Boonyarit Payungsakul of Thailand.
Also bagging silver was powerlifter Achelle Guion as she finished second in the Women’s -45kg.
Guion’s best lift in the event came in the third attempt with a 67.00. She lifted a 66.00 in the second attempt after failing in her opening try.
It was an all-important lift as Alina Solodukhina of Kazakhstan ended up with a 66.00 in her second attempt. The eventual bronze place finisher could not carry a 67.00 in her third attempt.
Lingling Guo of China was the overwhelming winner with a 115.00.
