TRIPLE GOLD MEDALIST. Angel Mae Otom rules the women's 50m butterfly S5 event in record fashion to win her third gold medal in the ongoing 12th ASEAN Para Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Wednesday (June 7, 2023). The Philippines remained fifth overall in medal standing with 27 gold. (Media pool photo)
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Swimmer Angel Mae Otom clinched her third gold medal to spark the Philippines’ six-gold haul on Wednesday in the ongoing 12th ASEAN Para Games here.
Otom claimed her third gold medal at the Morodok Aquatics Center with a stunning victory in the women's 50m butterfly S5 event.
She set a new Games record of 47.33 seconds, shattering her own 48.07 performance last year in Indonesia. Vietnam's Thi Sari Nguyen settled for the silver medal in 1:17.31.
Another swimmer Ernie Gawilan also won another gold after ruling the men’s 200m Individual Medley SM7 with a time of 2:50.29.
The Philippine chess team added two golds with Darry Bernardo winning the men’s standard B2B3 competition and the team event with Menandro Redor and Arman Subaste.
Bernardo’s earlier triumphs came in rapid individual and team on Sunday.
He could emerge as the most bemedalled Filipino athlete, if not the whole of the Games itself if he could win the individual and team blitz events slated later Wednesday.
Also striking gold were Evaristo Carbonel (discus throw F11) and Jerold Mangliwan (200m T52) at the Morodok Techo National Stadium
At press time, the Philippines stayed at fifth and already amassed 27 golds, one shy of replicating its 28-gold haul last year.
Gawilan also pocketed the silver medal in the 50m buttterfly (34.72), finishing second to Singapore's Wei Soong Toh (30.78).
Double-gold medalist Gary Bejino placed second in the men's 50m butterfly S6 event won by Thailand's Aekkarin Noithat (34.48).
Meanwhile, Jesebel Tordecilla got the silver medal in the women's javelin throw F55 with an effort of 13.62 meters. Vietnam's Ngo Thi Lan won the gold medal (14.27m) while Myanmar's Htet Htet Aye secured the bronze medal (11.68m).
Andrei Kuizon registered 19.03 meters in the men's javelin throw F34-54 to finish second behind Vietnam's Vovan Tung (21.33m) while Malaysia's Taufik Nasirdin (13.19m) was third.
Athletics also delivered three bronze medals coming from Cendy Asusano, Jerome Fernandez and Arman Dino. (PNA)
