FILE–Cendy Asusano celebrates after winning the javelin gold. —TEAM PHILIPPINES PHOTO
PARIS—Cendy Asusano threw the arching spear over a thousand times in training but never got this far.
In front of a massive exhilarating crowd at the colossal 80,698-seat Stade de France, the wheelchair-bound Asusano unexpectedly tossed it to a personal best of 15.05 meters right on her first attempt to retain her world para rankings at the 17th Paralympic Games.
“I didn’t anticipate that I could throw it that far. There was also no expectation that I would finish close to the podium,” said Asusano in Filipino after placing fourth in the women’s javelin throw F54 final.
READ: Javelin ace Cendy Asusano last Team PH hope for a medal
“I never threw 15 meters in my entire career even during training, so I really feel like I’ve won a medal,” added the double-gold winner in the Asean Para Games, both in the javelin and discus throw, who remained fourth in the world placings.
Asusano’s first heave provided eventual bronze medalist Elham Salehi of Iran some anxious moments, prompting the latter’s coach to stand up and watch the Filipino intently at the sideline.
“We didn’t win any medal, but it’s a big improvement from her usual throw in training,” said coach Bernard Buen, who kept Asusano in top shape along with national para athletics head coach Joel Deriada.
World champion Nurkhon Kurbanova of Uzbekistan wiped out her own world standard with a 21.12-meter throw on her fifth attempt while Nigeria’s Flor Ugwunwa, the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games gold medalist, settled for the silver this time in 19.26m.
Salehi got the bronze medal in 16.24m.
READ: Cendy Asusano, strongest thrower, shrugs off DQ to notch 2nd gold
Cendy Asusano (right) with coach Bernard Buen.–June Navarro/PDI
“I was a bit overwhelmed when I entered the competition area. I just followed the instructions of my coaches to throw my best right on the first attempt,” said Asusano, whose previous personal best was 14.63m in a fourth-place effort at the World Para Championships in Kobe, Japan last May.
“They told me that this is my moment. Enjoy and give your best,” said the 34-year-old Asusano, a mother of two boys and a resident of Barangay Orambo in Pasig City.
Asusano capped the country’s campaign in these Games under the Philippine Paralympic Committee and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission featuring the best physically challenged athletes in the world.
Besides Asusano, five other Filipinos qualified in these Games—archer Agustina Bantiloc, taekwondo’s Allain Ganapin, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan and swimmers Angel Otom and Ernie Gawilan.
None of them reached the podium but Filipino sports officials led by PPC president Michael Barredo and PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann assured the outpour of support.
PSC commissioner Fritz Gaston and executive director Paolo Tatad cheered for them at the stands along with PPC secretary general Goody Custodio, PPC director for para sports development Milette Bonoan and Team Philippines chef de mission Ral Rosario.
“The performance of our athletes are exceptional with four finals appearances. The local organizing committee’s goal of sustainability was achieved and that’s one thing important with the Paralympic movement,” said Rosario.
Otom, who nearly bagged medals in the women’s 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly S5, has been designated flag-bearer in the closing ceremony of these Games on Sunday that showcased 4,463 athletes from 168 countries in 22 sports.