PH wins 4 more golds in Asian Para Games

CHAMPS. Cyclist Arthus Bucay (center) poses with coach Norberto Oconer (left) and teammate Godfrey Taberna after winning the men’s Individual Pursuit 4000-meter C5 event in the 2018 Asian Para Games at the Jakarta International Velodrome in Indonesia on Friday (Oct. 12, 2018). Bucay also won the bronze in the Time Trial, while Taberna got the bronze in the Road Race C4 event. (Photo courtesy of Beatrice Lajawa via PNA)

MANILA — Chess, swimming, and cycling delivered the gold medals for Team Philippines in the penultimate day of the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

In a text message, Team Philippines deputy chef de mission Dennis Esta said the Filipino chess players won two golds, one silver, and four bronzes on Friday.

The Filipinos dominated the men’s Individual Pursuit P1 event, with FIDE Master Sander Severino winning the gold, Henry Roger Lopez taking the silver, and Jasper Rom pocketing the bronze during the competition at the Chempaka Putih Sports Hall.

The team of Severino, Lopez, and Rom went on to win the gold medal.

The Philippines collected three more bronze medals, courtesy of Arman Subaste in the men’s Individual Rapid B2-B3; Menandro Redor, Israel Peligro and Subaste in the Team Rapid B2-B3; and Francis Ching, Rodolfo Sarmiento, and Cecilio Bilog in the team Rapid B1.

Severino now has three gold medals, including his victories in the Individual Standard P1 and Team Standard P1 with Lopez and Rom last October 10.

Meanwhile, swimmer Ernie Gawilan and cyclist Arthus Bucay have also contributed to the Philippines’ gold medal haul, based on the results posted at the 2018 Asian Para Games official website.

Gawilan won the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 (6-7) event at the Gelora Bung Karno Aquatic Center for his third gold medal.

Gawilan, who has competed at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, got his first two golds in the 200-meter Individual Medley SM7 and 100-meter backstroke S7 events. He also won two silvers coming from the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle S7 events.

Bucay ruled the men’s Individual Pursuit 4000-m C5 event at the Jakarta International Velodrome. Sufyan Saori of Indonesia bagged the silver medal, while Mahdi Mohammad of Iran settled for the bronze medal.

Bucay also won the bronze medal in the Individual Time Trial event on October 8. He was a bronze medalist in the Individual Road Race C4-5 event in 2014.

Swimmer Gary Bejino also won the silver in the men’s 200-meter Individual Medley SM6 (5-6) event. The Philippines ended its campaign in the Asian Para Games with 10 golds, 8 silvers and 11 bronzes.

With this achievement, the Philippines has achieved its best showing in the Asian Para Games. The Filipinos won five silvers and five bronzes four years ago in Incheon, South Korea and bagged four silvers and three bronzes during the 2010 edition in Guangzhou, China.