Metro Manila, Philippines – Swimmers Gary Bejino and Ernie Gawilan delivered the country’s first two gold medals in the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Thailand.
Bejino captured the first gold after ruling the men’s 400-meter freestyle S6 final on Wednesday, Jan. 21, with an official time of 5:32.08, beating rivals from Vietnam and Thailand while also setting a new record.
Gawilan, meanwhile, topped the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 event with a time of 5:02.39.
The women’s 3×3 team composed of Patricia Castro, Rhebilyn Aniban, Jean Delos Reyes, Lorna Lilagan and Cecelia Wells, and the men’s 3×3 squad featuring Alfie Cabañog Jannil Cañete, Fel Lander Dawal, Anthony Aze Demesa, and Kenneth Christopher Tapia nabbed silver medals earlier in wheelchair basketball.
Para-cyclist Michael Bayani settled for bronze in the men’s individual time trial C3-C5 event with a time of 46:00.971.
The ASEAN Para Games, a biennial multi-sport event held after every Southeast Asian Games involving athletes with disabilities, will run from Jan. 20 to 26.
