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| Ariel Alegarbes swam his way to the Philippines' second Asian Para Games gold. PSC-PPC Media Pool |
NAGOYA—Ariel Joseph Alegarbes struck like lightning in seizing the men’s 100-meter backstroke S14 gold medal, the Philippines’ second gold at the 5th Asian Para Games, at the Rainbow Pool of the Nagoya City General Gymnasium on Tuesday.
Coming into the final with the second-fastest time in the morning heats, the 21-year-old native of Victorias City, Negros Occidental, left nothing to chance. His effort paid off as he topped the event in one minute and 1.56 seconds.
Alegarbes, who has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia, edged South Korea’s Kang Sungho, who finished just a fraction of a second behind in 1:01.61.
Thailand’s Natirat Meeprom, who posted the fastest qualifying time in the heats, settled for third in 1:02.08.
It was the Philippines’ second golden performance after Ernie Gawilan’s 400-meter freestyle S7 triumph the day before, and its third medal overall following Raemond Adefuin’s bronze in the 100-meter breaststroke SB6.
Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo said the swimmers’ victories could inspire more Filipino athletes to reach the podium.
“Well, again, it inspires and motivates the others to do the same, di ba?” Barredo said, describing the gold medalists as showing their teammates the “pathway to gold.”
“And I’m sure others, maybe in track and field tomorrow and the other events that we still have, will see that they have been successful and they will try for it themselves. They will follow that pathway to gold.”
Philippine chef de mission Francis Diaz also hailed Alegarbes’ victory, saying it underscored the promise of the country’s para-swimming program.
“Pugay, Arjay Alegarbes, para sa ikalawang ginto ng Pilipinas sa 5th Asian Para Games. We are very proud of your achievement,” Diaz said.
The latest feat kept the Philippines in 14th place overall in the medal tally.
In archery at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square, Marzel Burgos, Augustina Bantiloc and Jannah Kate Ballesta suffered heartbreaking defeats, as did the mixed team of Bantiloc and Burgos.
Burgos absorbed a 147-142 loss to China’s Ai Xinliang in the men’s compound elimination round; Bantiloc was stopped by another Chinese archer, Zhao Jing, 147-135, in the women’s compound; and Ballesta fell to South Korea’s Kim Okgeum, 6-5.
Burgos and Bantiloc later teamed up in the mixed compound but absorbed a stinging 148-147 loss to Chinese Taipei’s Lee Yun Hsien and Yang Jyun Kai.
Over at the Izu Velodrome in track cycling, Nikko Peralta and Patrick Lee failed to advance in the 4,000-meter individual pursuit in their respective classes.
Peralta clocked 5:14.411 in the C4 class, while Lee finished in 5:09.605 in C5, but neither time was enough to make the cut.
Meanwhile, Allain Ganapin, one of the country’s two flag bearers and its lone entry in taekwondo, plunges into action against Iran’s Mahdi Pourrahnamaahmad in the men’s K44 under-80kg division at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Gymnasium.
The 28-year-old Marikina native needs two victories to assure himself of at least a medal.
