Asian Para Games: Gawilan bags 3rd gold, PH chess team racks up medals

Ernie Gawilan added another gold to his medal haul as the Philippines continued to hike its medal tally in the second to the last day of 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Gawilan, who was born without feet and left hand, captured his third gold medal, this time ruling men’s freestyle 400m S7 (6-7) on Friday with a time of 4:56.98, 35 seconds ahead of the second best competitor.

The 27-year-old swimmer gave the country its first gold medal in the Asian Para Games history in the opening day of the continental meet.

Meanwhile, the Philippine men’s chess team bagged two golds, a silver and four bronze medals in rapid chess.

Sander Severino also took home his fourth gold medal after winning the men’s individual rapid P1 and the men’s team rapid P1 along with Jasper Rom and Henry Roger Lopez.

Henry Roger Lopez settled for silver in the men’s individual rapid P1 while Rom ended up with the bronze in the same category.

Arman Subaste (men’s individual rapid B2-B3); Francis Ching, Rodolfo Sarmiento and Cecilio Bilog (men’s team rapid chess B); and Redor Menandro, Subaste and Israel Peligro (men’s team rapid B2-B3) also won bronze medals.

In cycling, Arthus Bucay came away with the gold medal in the men’s C5 4000M individual pursuit.