Mangliwan keeps medal hopes alive; Gawilan plunges into action

Team Philippines’ wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan is competing in the Paris Paralympics 2024. —PARALYMPICS YOUTUBE

PARIS—Wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan checked in fourth in his heat under overcast skies and on a very slippery track to qualify for the finals of the men’s 400-meter T52 race of the 17th Paralympic Games here.

The reigning Asian champion on Friday struggled in the conditions and clocked a minute and 5.79 seconds to be ranked seventh among the finalists overall. And with that, the 44-year-old is not having grand thoughts of a gold medal finish.

But that doesn’t mean that he feels he has no shot at winning.

“The rain really affected the way I raced. If this weather continues tonight, I’ll just have to adjust,’’ Mangliwan, who has a personal best of 1:01.35, said in Filipino. “I admit that I was quite nervous in the heats, but anything can happen in the final.

“I’ll stay focused throughout.’’

World champion and record holder Maxime Carabin of Belgium dominated the first heat in 54.48 seconds to qualify with the best time and is fancied to bag the gold, something that Mangliwan’s coach, Bernard Buen, believes makes everyone else in the field as underdogs.

Redemption race

“If Mangliwan keeps his presence of mind and follows our game plan, there’s a big chance for Jerrold to medal,’’ said Buen.

Making the finals gives Mangliwan a chance to erase bitter memories of his Tokyo 2021 campaign, where he was disqualified in the gold medal race for racing in the wrong lane after a turn.

“He knows what to do this time,’’ said Buen.

Meanwhile, veteran swimmer Ernie Gawilan plunges into action on Saturday in the heats of the men’s individual 200-m individual medley relay SM7 at the La Defense Arena (5:20 p.m. in Manila). If the quadruple Asian Para Games gold medalist makes the cut, Gawilan will figure in the final set early on Sunday morning.