Medina makes it 20 golds for Team Philippines in KL Para Games

Josephine Medina
wins another gold. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ Joey Razon of PNA

KUALA LUMPUR—Team Philippines hiked its gold count to 20 Saturday, with veteran Josephine Medina emerging triumphant in table tennis as the curtains fell on the Asean Para Games at Bukit Jalil National Stadium here.

Medina, a 47-year-old 2016 Rio Paralympics bronze medalist, thwarted Suwarti of Indonesia, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9, to claim the gold in the sport she has dominated since the event’s second edition also held here 14 years ago.

The win sealed a fifth-place finish for the country in the overall race after a medal haul of 20 golds, 20 silvers and 29 bronzes. Indonesia was the runaway winner of the event with a 126-75-50 harvest while host Malaysia collected 90-85-84.

Thailand finished third with 68-73-94 and Vietnam fourth with 40-61-60.

The country thus improved on the 16-17-26 haul from the 2015 Singapore edition.

Athletics, drawing strength from three golds each by teenage sprint phenom Cielo Honasan and wheelchair-bound thrower Cendy Asusano, scooped up nine golds, five silvers and six bronzes.

At match point at 10-9, Medina uncorked a soft forehand that kissed the top of the net and landed on the board for the decisive point.

Medina will thus go home with two medals, including the team bronze alongside Minnie de Ramos in the higher S9-S10 class a couple of days back.

The Filipinos are scheduled to fly back home Sunday and start preparing for the country’s hosting of the 10th Asean Para Games two years from now.