Gawilan, Bejino break records; para athletics add to PH gold haul in ASEAN Para Games

Para swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino broke records at the ASEAN Para Games on Thursday in Thailand en route to gold medals.

Gawilan clocked 2:26.08 to capture gold in the men’s 200m freestyle S7, while Bejino topped the S6 category with a time of 2:37.21.

The victories added to the para swimming team’s growing gold haul, after Gawilan and Bejino also struck gold on Wednesday, alongside teammate Angel Otom.

Meanwhile, the para athletics team further boosted the Philippines’ gold medal count.

Wheelchair racer Rodrigo Podiotan Jr. finished first in the men’s 400m T52, timing 1:01.06 to edge compatriot and Paralympian Jerrold Mangliwan, who settled for silver with 1:01.41.

Cendy Asusano also delivered gold after topping the six-athlete women’s shot put F54 finals. In the men’s 1500m T11, the duo of Evenizer Celebrado and Daniel Enderes claimed gold, while Roldan Sagan and Julius Sermona secured bronze.

The Philippines currently has nine gold medals, seven silver medals, and eight bronze medals, based on the medal tally of the ASEAN Para Games.

According to the Paralympics website, S6 and S7 events are for para swimmers with physical impairments, while the T52 classification is for wheelchair racers with limb deficiency, leg length difference, or impaired passive range of movement. T11 events, meanwhile, are for para athletes with visual impairment, while F54 are for seated throwers with limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired range of movement.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News