Javelin ace Asusano last Team PH hope for a medal

Cendy Asusano celebrates after winning the javelin gold. —TEAM PHILIPPINES PHOTO

PARIS—As Team Philippines’ closing act in the 17th Paralympic Games, there’s certainly pressure on Cendy Asusano to deliver the lean contingent’s first medal here.

But no amount of tension and strain could soften the nation’s best wheelchair thrower in the women’s javelin F54 event on Saturday at the 81,000-seat Stade de France.

“I somehow feel nervous competing here, but I’ll try to overcome that by getting myself in top condition, especially during the competition,’’ said Asusano, who sits at No. 4 in the world rankings in her event.

The pride of Donsol, Sorsogon, which is world-famous for its whale sharks, qualified for these Games with a throw of 14.23 meters in finishing fourth during the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China.

“My target is to go beyond my personal best and hit 15 meters. I guess that would be enough for me,’’ said Asusano.

She registered a personal best of 14.63 m and was also fourth in the World Para Championships in Kobe, Japan, last May.

Uzbekistan’s Nurkhon Kurbanova is the current world champion in the event and has set a global standard of 20.73 m also set in Kobe, where defending gold medalist Flora Ugwunwa of Nigeria finished second at 19.07.

“Cendy is under no pressure from us in her first Paralympic Games. If she exceeds her previous personal best, we’ll be satisfied,’’ said national coach Joel Deriada.

Meanwhile, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan bowed out of contention in the final of the men’s 100-m T52 on late Thursday evening, leaving Otom and Asusano as the remaining hopes for a medal.