ERNIE Gawilan became the first-ever Filipino gold medalist in the 2018 Asian Para Games, winning the men’s 200m individual medley at the GBK Aquatic Center in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The 27-year-old ruled the SM7 category on Sunday with a time of 2 minutes and 52.43 seconds.
In the 2014 edition in Incheon, South Korea, Gawilan delivered three of the Philippines’ five bronze medals. At the time the nationals also bagged five silver medals.
In its maiden participation in the Asian Para Games in 2010, the Philippines had an output of 0-4-3 (gold-silver-gold).
Gawilan beat Chen Liang-Da of Chinese Taipei by 3 seconds while Jadhav Suyash Narayan of India took the bronze.
The native of Davao also won silver on Sunday in men’s 50m freestyle S7 with a clocking of 31.93 seconds. Toh Wei Soong of Singapore copped the gold with 29.01 seconds.
Gary Bejino bagged the bronze in the men’s 100m backstroke S6.
Also on Sunday, Achelle Guion claimed the silver medal in the women’s 45kg powerlifting competitions. (SPIN.ph)
