Pinay lifter snatches bronze

SYDNEY — Adeline Dumapong, a physically-challenged powerlifter from the Ifugao Province, bagged the bronze medal in the 11th Paralympic Games at the Olympic Park’s Downes Pavilion here.

Dumapong had a lift of 97.5 kgs in the women’s 82.5kg category and although she failed on her second try at 107.5kg, the gutsy Filipina succeeded on her third lift at 110kg to bag third place honors.

The feat came two weeks after the Filipino athletes came home empty-handed from the Olympic Games for the first time in 12 years and it put the Philippines on the medal tally in the event which drew 26 countries.

"My congratulations to Adeline and the Philippine Sports for the Differently-Abled (PHILSPADA) president Michael Barredo under whose leadership these athletes have gained international recognition. Rest assured that the PSC will continue supporting the physically-challenged men and women in sports, especially the PHILSPADA projects," said Philippine Sports Commission chair Carlos Tuason.

Six-time world champion Emma Brown of Great Britain hoisted 133kg in her third attempt to win the gold and break the world record of 132.5kg she set in Jan. 1999. Hend Abd Elaty of Egypt lifted 120kg in her third attempt for the silver medal.

"Alam kong mahirap silang talunin pero ginawa ko talaga ang lahat para mabigyan ng karangalan ang Pilipinas," said Dumapong who won the 75kg in the Paralympic Games qualifying tournament in Florida last February.

Earlier this year, she also took the 82.5kg gold in the Malaysia Paralympiad and Asian Millennium Bench Press tournaments.

"I’m happy for this victory and I’d like to thank God for the blessing," said Nestor Fajota III, coach of the B.S. Computer Education graduate from St. Paul’s, Quezon City.

Incidentally, javelin thrower Andres Lubin, the other Filipino wheelchair athlete participating in the 11-day meet, will compete in the FS7 class (both legs can function) on Oct. 25.

The Paralympics, the highest international competition of differently-abled athletes, is held every four years right after the Olympics.