HANGZHOU – Running a brilliant tactical race, Jerrold Mangliwan surged past South Korea’s Jeon Jeongdae in the last 30 meters in snatching the silver medal in the men’s 100-meter T52 finals of the 4th Hangzhou Asian Para Games trackfest at the Huanglong Sports Stadium oval here Tuesday.

Racing on the outside lane, Mangliwan bided his time before putting on a burst of speed in flashing past the South Korean in a personal best time of 18.65 for his first medal in the continental meet after placing fourth in the same event in the 2018 edition held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Japan’s Ito Tatsuya retained his title by clocking a new meet record of 17.41 meters while Jeon, who clocked (18.67), settled for the bronze in Mangliwan’s fourth straight  Asian Para Games appearance backed by the Philippine Sports Commission. 

“Nagpapasalamat ako kay God na binigyan niya ako ng ganitong pagkakataon. First time na mag-Asian Para Games medal pagkatapos ng apat na kompetisyon. Wala na seguro akong masasabi pa,” said the delighted athlete of his unexpected silver in the event that he acknowledged was not his strong suit.

“Nagbunga yung training namin ni coach Joel (Deriada) and Bernard (Ebuen) kasi ang game ko talaga sa bandang dulo dahil basag ako talaga sa starting,” added the Tokyo Paralympic Games veteran, who dedicated his silver to cousin Handsome Magdiwang, who figured in an accident back home.

Encouraged by his performance, Mangliwan, who won two mints in the Cambodian ASEAN Para Games last June,  is expected to figure prominently for another medal in his pet event, the men’s 400-meter T52 contest, scheduled later in the week. 

Hoping to add to the country’s medal tally later in the evening was swimmer Ernie Gawilan, who finished a strong second in the heats in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 event with a time of 5:11.16 behind Singaporean topnotcher Soong Too Wei (5:09.82).

A bronze medalist in the 200-meter individual medley the previous day, Gawilan, however, was apparently preserving his strength for the finals since he owns the current  Asian Para Games mark of 4:51.00 when he won the event in the Indonesian capital five years ago.

Also making it to the finals of the men’s 100-meter backstroke S14 event Tuesday night was APG rookie Joseph Ariel Alegarbes, who clocked 1:01.16 in finishing sixth among the eight finalists in the event.

On the other hand, Cambodia ASEAN Para Games quadruple gold medalist Angel Mae Otom finished a distant fourth in the women’s 200-meter freestyle S5 finals in a time of 3:32.34.

Otom’s teammates, Marco Tinamisan (men’s 100-meter freestyle S4) and Roland Sabio (men’s 200-meter IM SM9) failed to go beyond their respective heats.

Veteran powerlifter Achelle Guion missed out on a podium finish, winding up in fourth place with a lift of 83 kilos in the women’s -45-kilogram division.

(ai/mnm)