Hangzhou–Flashing his best form ever, Filipino Paralympian Jerrold Mangliwan handed Team Philippines a silver medal in wheelchair racing in the 4th Asian Para Games on Tuesday at the Huanglong Sports Center here.
The 43-year-old Southeast Asian Games multi-gold medalist submitted a personal best of 18.65 seconds to place second behind eventual gold finisher and defending champion, Japanese Ito Tatsuya, who set a new Asian Para Games’ record of 17.41 in the men’s 100m T52.
Mangliwan’s medal feat was a worthy improvement from his 19.34 clocking, that was good for fourth place.
“Basta ipinangako ko sa sarili ko na nang dumating ako dito sa China na dapat manalo ako ng medal kahit anong kulay,” said the pride of Tabuk, Kalinga after winning his first ever medal in his fourth Para Asiad appearance.
Mangliwan started slow and appeared headed to another fourth-place finish, but came from behind and outduelled Jeong Jongdae of Korea and another Japanese, Ueyonabaru Horkazu down the stretch to complete his breakthrough performance that netted for the Philippines its first silver here.
“‘Yan talaga ang ine-ensayo ko, mabagal talaga sa simula at sa bandang dulo ako pumupukpok,” he added.
Jeong was just 0.02 seconds abreast of Mangliwan for third place, while Horkazu settled for fourth.
Mangliwan’s silver came a day after swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino delivered bronze medals each to break the ice for Team Philippines’ medal quest with the backing of the Philippine Sports Commission.
“Nagpapasalamat ako kay God na binigyan niya ako ng ganitong pagkakataon. First time na mag-Asian Para Games medal pagkatapos ng apat na kumpetiisyon. Wala na siguro akong masasabi pa,” said the delighted athlete of his unexpected silver in the event that he acknowledged was not his strong suit.
“Nagbunga ‘yung training namin ni coach Joel (Deriada) and Bernard (Ebuen) kasi ang game ko talaga sa bandang dulo dahil basag ako talaga sa starting,” added the Tokyo Paralympic Games veteran, who dedicated his silver to cousin Handsome Magdiwang, who figured in an accident back home.
Encouraged by his performance, Mangliwan, who won two mints in the Cambodian ASEAN Para Games last June, is expected to figure prominently for another medal in his pet event, the men’s 400-meter T52 contest, scheduled later in the week.
Hoping to add to the country’s medal tally later in the evening was swimmer Gawilan, who finished a strong second in the heats in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 event with a time of 5:11.16 behind Singaporean topnotcher Soong Too Wei (5:09.82).
Gawilan, however, was apparently preserving his strength for the finals since he owns the current Asian Para Games mark of 4:51.00 when he won the event in the Indonesian capital five years ago.
Also making it to the finals of the men’s 100-meter backstroke S14 event Tuesday night was APG rookie Joseph Ariel Alegarbes, who clocked 1:01.16 in finishing sixth among the eight finalists.
On the other hand, Cambodia ASEAN Para Games quadruple gold medalist Angel Mae Otom finished a distant fourth in the women’s 200-meter freestyle S5 finals in a time of 3:32.34.
Otom’s teammates, Marco Tinamisan (men’s 100-meter freestyle S4) and Roland Sabio (men’s 200-meter IM SM9) failed to go beyond their respective heats.
Veteran powerlifter Achelle Guion missed out on a podium finish, finishing fourth place with a lift of 83 kilos in the women’s -45-kilogram division.
