Powerlifter Dumapong-Ancheta captures bronze in Asian Para Games

BRONZE MEDALIST. Paralypics powerlifter Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta captured the bronze medal in the women’s over 86kg category at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Jat Tenorio via PNA)

MANILA — Powerlifter Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta delivered another bronze medal for Team Philippines at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Indonesia on Thursday.

Dumapong-Ancheta lifted 107kgs on her second attempt to finish third among five entries in the women’s over 86kg competition held at the Balai Sudirman Hall in Jakarta.

South Korean Lee Hyung-Jung erased the 115kgs record she set four years ago in Incheon to win the gold medal while Indonesian Sriyanti Sriyanti settled for the silver medal.

Lee and Sriyanti both lifted 118kgs but the gold was awarded to the South Korean, who has a body weight of 102.90kgs compared to the Indonesian, who weighed 106.20kgs.

“I am very happy with my bronze medal. It was a very good match. I was the oldest lifter in my category and I have seen most of the lifters when they were just starting and seen how they have gotten stronger over the years. Nakakatuwa at nakakapressure at the same time. They have their youth on their side and I have experience on my side. I am not getting any younger and competition is getting tougher pero mukhang may ibubuga pa naman,” said 44-year-old athlete from Kiangan town in Ifugao province in an online interview on Friday.

“Tignan natin hanggang saan ako abutin. Dadagdagan ko pa ang sipag at tiyaga sa gym. I would have wanted to offer our country another gold medal but it’s not meant to be this time,” said Dumapong-Ancheta, who also won the bronze 10 years ago in Guangzhou, China. In 2014, she got the silver.

“Masaya ako na meron akong maliit na contribution sa medal standing ng Team Philippines dito sa Asian Para Games. Masayang masaya ako na madami na kaming para-athletes na lumalaban ngayon. Ang bawat panalo ng aming atleta ay panalo ng bawat Pilipino lalo na ng may Kapansanang Pilipino,” added Dumapong-Ancheta, who contracted polio at the age of three.

After the Asian Para Games, Dumapong-Ancheta said she will focus on qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

“If I will be lucky, it will be my sixth Paralympic Games. Aside from that, what’s next for me is to continue supporting the para sport movement in the country and encouraging other PWDs (Person With Disabilities) to join a sport. Bukod sa maganda sa katawan, it is also a tool that can be used to spotlight issues and concerns of the PWD sector,” said Dumapong-Ancheta, a computer science graduate from St. Paul’s College in Quezon City.

Last month, Dumapong-Ancheta captured two bronze medals at the World Para Powerlifting Open/Asia-Oceania Pacific Championships in Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka, Japan.

Dumapong-Ancheta was the first Filipino medalist at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics where she took the bronze medal. She has also competed in 2004 (Athens), 2008 (Beijing), 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio de Janeiro).

Aside from Dumapong-Ancheta, the other bronze medal winners in the 2018 Asian Para Games are chess player Arman Subaste (men’s Individual Standard VI-B2/B3) and Jasper Rom (men’s Individual Standard P1); swimmer Gary Bejino (men’s 100-meter backstroke and 100-meter freestyle S6); and cyclists Arthus Bucay (men’s Time Trial C5) and Godfrey Taberna (men’s road race C4).

The Philippines also bagged six gold medals through swimmer Ernie Gawilan (men’s 200-meter Individual Medley and 100-meter backstroke SM7); chess players Saneder Severino (men’s Individual Standard P1), Jasper Rom, Henry Roger Lopez, Severino (men’s team Standard VI-B2/B3) and Redor Menandro, Arman Subaste and Israel Peligro (men’s team Standard P1); and bowler Ian Kim Chi (mixed singles TBP10).

Those who delivered the silver medals were Menandro (men’s Individual Standard VI-B2/B3); Gawilan (50-meter and 100-meter freestyle); Ian Kim Chi and Samuel Matias (mixed doubles TBP10+TBP10); table tennis player Josephine Medina (women’s singles Class 8); and powerlifter Achelle Guion (women’s Up to 45kg).

With six golds, six silvers and seven bronzes, the Philippines has recorded its best finish in the Asian Para Games. The Filipinos won five silvers and five bronzes in 2014, and bagged four silvers and three bronzes in 2010.

Meanwhile, China has collected 137 golds, 69 silvers and 49 bronzes based on the medal tally board of the Asian Para Games official website, as of 8 a.m. on Friday.

South Korea is in second place with 43 golds, 37 silvers and 34 bronzes while Iran is third with 40 golds, 32 silvers and 32 bronzes.

Japan is fourth with 31 golds, 52 silvers and 56 bronzes followed by Uzbekistan (31-20-16), Indonesia (24-33-39), Thailand (19-26-38), Malaysia (13-18-19), India (8-17-25), Hong Kong (6-10-19), Vietnam (6-6-15) and Philippines (6-6-7).