MANILA – Negrense Franz Gela Romualdo Bintad bucked the odds to capture the women’s javelin throw gold medal in the 2019 Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia.
The Escalante City, Negros Occidental native Bintad bested her competitors from other countries to rule the event on Sunday.
Fellow Filipina Evangeline Caminong bagged the silver medal.
“It feels great because this is my first time to win a gold medal in international competition,” said the 18-year-old Bintad, a standout of Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts.
She was recruited to be part of De La Salle University’s track and field team in UAAP Season 82.
“This is extra special because I am not just representing Bacolod City but the whole Philippines. As a team, we went through a lot participating in the Arafura Games,” said Bintad.
Another Thunderbolt in Bacolod City native May Therese Gula made her presence felt in the week-long competition. She bagged a bronze medal in the women’s 1,500 meter dash.
After Sunday’s competition, the Philippines already had 18 gold medals from athletics and swimming competition./PN
