Patrick Gerard Lee wins para cycling bronze

Patrick Gerard Lee wins the bronze medal in the men’s C5 scratch race of para cycling in the Asian Cycling Confederation Track and Para Track Cycling championships.–CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

TAGAYTAY CITY— Patrick Gerard Lee put the Philippines on the medals board with a bronze in the men’s C5 scratch race of para cycling in the Asian Cycling Confederation Track and Para Track Cycling championships on Sunday at the Tagaytay CT Velodrome.

Lee’s victory served as a breakthrough for the Philippines in the annual meet hosted this year by the PhilCycling and Tagaytay City. The championships also marked the first continental exposure of the national para cycling team.

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The podium finish earned Lee qualification points for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics.

“I pushed and pushed myself, it’s a very tough race,” said Lee, 21, who lost his right forearm from under the elbow in a meat grinder at his aunt’s stall at Marilao Market when he was five years old.

“I’m really very happy because it’s for our country,” he added.

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Lee is set to race again on the last day of the championships on Wednesday.

Uzbekistan’s Azimbek Abdullaev won the gold medal and Japan’s Ruito Kameda secured the silver but with a tough challenge from Lee—the result went down to a photo finish.

Another Filipino, Joel Inn Tacutaco, finished fifth in the 14-man race.