PH breaks previous gold haul to make history as ASEAN Para Games 2023 closes
How the Philippines performed in APG 2023?
The Philippines finished fifth in the 11th ASEAN Para Games (APG). Winning 28 golds, the Filipino side won their biggest gold haul in the 20-year history of the biennial meet for differently abled athletes.
One year later, the Filipino para athletes represented the flag again, and this time, in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, from June 3–9.
With high hopes for them, Team Philippines delivered.
In fact, they did not only deliver. Instead, the contingent made a historical stride to bring pride and glory to the Pearl of the Orient.
On Friday, June 9, the Philippines closed its APG 2023 run with a historic 34-gold performance on top of 33 silvers and 50 bronzes for a record-breaking 117 total medals won.
The nationals finished fifth for the second straight APG edition but with more golds and medals tallied, proving the 174 strong delegates’ solid outing.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner and Chef-de-Mission (CDM) Walter Francis Torres on Facebook congratulated the para athletes who fought for the nation.
“I am honored and overjoyed to congratulate our athletes for their remarkable performances and astounding achievements in the 12th ASEAN Para Games. These achievements have not only brought glory once again to the Philippines but also serve as inspirations and motivations to future generations of para-athletes,” Torres said on Friday.
“As we return home, remember that the results of these games will forever leave a mark on the sporting landscape of our country. You will continue to influence generations to overcome boundaries and limitations. On behalf of the entire nation, Congratulations! I salute you all for your remarkable performances and outstanding representation of the Philippines in the 12th ASEAN Para Games. You make us proud!” he added.
PH para chess team snares 13 golds
Leading the pack was the para chess team. The Filipino woodpushers eclipsed their 10-gold production last 2022 in Indonesia, providing the most golds with 13.
Guided by James Infiesto, the chess crew also produced the most bemedaled para athletes of the country in Darry Bernardo and Cheyzer Mendoza. Bernardo clinched six crowns, while Mendoza topped five events.
National Master Bernardo, visually impaired, ruled the men’s individual and team blitz VI-B2/B3 to cap his campaign. Earlier this week, he already racked up four golds in both individual and team events of standard and rapid VI-B2/B3.
On the women’s side, Mendoza, a lawyer, topped the individual and team blitz PI on the final day of para chess competitions to complete a five-gold triumph. On Wednesday, she snared the gold medals in the individual and team standard P1 events after becoming the individual rapid PI champion on June 4.
Para swimming, para athletics add 10 golds apiece
Para swimming and para athletics backstopped para chess with 10 golds each.
Behind her four-gold stash, Angel Mae Otom anchored the para swimming team’s success, which also garnered nine silvers and seven bronzes. Otom netted one more gold than last year, finishing first place in the 50-meter backstroke S5, 50-meter butterfly S5, 50-meter freestyle S5, and 200-meter individual medley S5.
Moreover, the Olongapo tanker posted 47.33 seconds to shatter her own 50m butterfly record of 48.07 last Surakarta 2022.
The Philippine para swimming team placed sixth overall after Thailand (34–29–33), Vietnam (28–19–26), Indonesia (27–37–24), Malaysia (26–12–10), and Singapore (11–10–8).
Meanwhile, four track athletes led the way for the Philippine para athletics squad as Cendy Asusano, Evaristo Carbonel, Jerrold Mangliwan, and Andrei Kuizon ended their Phnom Penh 2023 stints with two golds each.
Asusano brought home the women’s shot put and javelin throw F54 tilts, while Carbonel top-notched the men’s javelin throw and discus throw F11.
Mangliwan stood as the men’s 400m and 200m T52 champion, while Kuizon plucked the men’s shot put F54 and men’s javelin throw F53–54 titles.
King James Reyes and Rosalie Torrefiel captured the two other gold medals for the Philippine para athletics squad. Reyes asserted dominance in the men’s 800m T46, while Torrefiel had the women’s javelin throw F11 crown.
Indonesia completes three-peat
Indonesia became the second three-peat champion in APG history after Thailand. The Indonesian delegates amassed 159 golds, 148 silvers, and 94 bronzes for 401 medals to claim the top position.
Five-time APG champion Thailand came second with 126 golds, 110 silvers, and 92 bronzes. Siam will host the next APG in 2025.
Vietnam settled for third place, amassing 66 golds, 58 silvers, and 77 bronzes.
Malaysia occupied fourth place with a 17-gold advantage against the Philippines on top of 38 silvers and 35 bronzes.
Sixth to 11th place nations are as follows: Myanmar (15–23–19), Singapore (12–15–17), host Cambodia (9–18–43), Brunei Darussalam (3–3–2), Timor Leste (2–0–5), and Laos (0–2–9).
Originally published at https://radyonatin.com.
