KUALA LUMPUR -- The Philippines won its first medal at the 9th ASEAN Para Games on Sunday courtesy of cyclist Arthus Bucay in the men's C5 1-kilometer Individual Time Trial event at the National Velodrome in Nilai.
The 36-year-old athlete from Marikina clocked one minute and 15.43 seconds to finish second behind Malaysian Ahmad Tarmizi Zuhaire, who took the gold in one minute and 09.69.
The bronze medal went to Indonesian SufyanSaori, who registered the third-best time of 1:19.17.
Bucay, a two-time Asian Para Cycling Championships gold medalist, is scheduled to compete in the 4,000-meter Individual Pursuit event on Monday. The qualifying race will be held at 4:30 p.m. to be followed by the final race at 6 p.m.
Bucay, bronze winner in the Individual Time Trial event in the 2014 Incheon Asian Para Games, will also compete in the road race event scheduled on Wednesday in Putrajaya.
The other Filipino riders entered in the road race are veterans Godfrey Tabuena and newcomer Joel Tacutacu. Tabuena is a bronze medalist in the Asian Para Cycling Championships.
The national cyclists underwent a four-month rigorous training under coach Norberto Oconer, who competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. (PNA)
