GOLD WINNER. Paralympian Ernie Gawilan (center) poses with coaches Tony Ong and Majonie Palumbarit after winning his second gold medal in swimming at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia on Wednesday (Oct. 10, 2018) (Contributed photo)
MANILA -- Paralympian Ernie Gawilan came up with another sterling performance at the Gelora Bung Karno Aquatic Center to win his second gold medal in the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Gawilan registered 1:19.90 in the men's 100-meter backstroke S7 event to share the gold medal with Japan's Daisuke Ejima, who submitted the same time.
Singapore's Toh Wei Soong settled for the bronze medal after clocking 1:20.21.
Gawilan, who hails from Paquibato District in Davao City, bagged his first gold medal in the 200-meter Individual Medley SM7 event on Sunday, the same day he bagged the silver in the 50-meter freestyle S7 event. He also got the silver in the 100-meter freestyle on Monday.
Gawilan, who has underdeveloped extremities, was the first Filipino to compete in the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.
With six golds, six silvers and six bronzes, the Philippines is now at No. 11 in the medal tally board as of Wednesday.
The Philippines' other gold medals came from Saneder Severino (men's Individual Standard P1); Jasper Rom, Henry Roger Lopez and Severino (men's team Standard VI-B2/B3); and Redor Menandro, Arman Subaste and Israel Peligro (men's team Standard P1), and bowler Ian Kim Chi (mixed singles TBP10).
Those who also delivered silver medals were Menandro (men's Individual Standard VI-B2/B3); bowlers Ian Kim Chi and Samuel Matias (mixed doubles TBP10+TBP10); table tennis player Josephine Medina (women's singles Class 8); and powerlifter Achelle Guion (women's Up to 45kg).
The bronze medal winners were Subaste (men's Individual Standard VI-B2/B3), Rom (men's Individual Standard P1); swimmer Gary Bejino (men's 100-meter backstroke and 100-meter freestyle S6); and cyclists Arthus Bucay (men's Time Trial C5) and Godfrey Taberna (men's road race C4). China is still on top of the medal tally board with 105 golds, 53 silvers and 39 bronzes. South Korea is in second place with 38 golds, 31 silvers and 26 bronzes while Iran is third with 29 golds, 23 silvers and 27 bronzes. Uzbekistan is fourth with 25 golds, 12 silvers and 10 bronzes followed by Japan (23-42-44), Indonesia (23-29-34), Thailand (16-22-30), Malaysia (9-15-17), India (7-13-17) and Hong Kong (6-9-19).
Meanwhile, seven-time ASEAN Para Games powerlifting champion Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta is scheduled to compete on Thursday afternoon at the Balai Sudirman hall.
Dumapong-Ancheta, the pride of Kiangan town in Ifugao province, has won the silver medal in the 2014 (Incheon) and 2010 (Guangzhou) editions of the tournament.
Last month, Dumapong-Ancheta captured two bronze medals at the Worlds Para Powerlifting Open/Asia-Oceania Pacific Championships in Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka, Japan.
Dumapong-Ancheta was the first Filipino medalist at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics where she took the bronze medal. She has also competed in 2004 (Athens), 2008 (Beijing), 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio de Janeiro). (PNA)
