Darry Bernardo leads para chess team's 6-gold haul in ASEAN Para Games

Darry Bernardo was in his element as the para chess team's ace led a six-gold medal haul for the Philippines in the 2023 ASEAN Para Games on Thursday in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Bernardo ruled the men's individual individual and team B2B3 gold with compatriots Arman Subaste and Menandro Redor as he bagged his sixth gold medal in the regional tournament—the most by any Filipino in the ongoing edition.

Cheyzer Mendoza also netted a couple of golden finishes in the women's individual and team PI with Cheryl Angot and Jean-Lee Nacita to net his fifth gold and become the second most bemedaled athlete by the country.

Sander Severino bested Indonesian Maksum Firdaus to claim the individual triumphs as well as the team with Felix Aguilera and Henry Lopez.

"Para sa bayan at pamilya po ng team ito," said national para chess team coach James Infiesto.

With the Filipino woodpushers' stellar performances, the Philippines now eclipsed its gold medal haul in the previous edition in Indonesia, where the Filipinos only had 28 gold mints.

—Bea Micaller/MGP, GMA Integrated News