One-armed runner lifts gold for RP

The Philippines ended a gold medal hunt in the centerpiece event of athletics through one-armed wonder Isidro Vidisola and paraplegic Jerico Openia even as Thailand and Malaysia sustained their splurge in Day Three of the third ASEAN Para Games at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex yesterday.

Vidisola came through with triumphant efforts in the 1,500m and 800m run while Openia gained prominence with a golden performance in shot put in this week-long event bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission, PCSO, DPWH, PLDT-Smart, STI, SM, Philpost and Philspada.

Vidisola clocked four minutes and 27.94 seconds to cop the 1,500m gold, besting Thailand’s Somkid Kummoongkun (4:39.11) and Indonesia’s Bambang Wahono’s (4:47.29).

He later made it a golden-double by topping the 800m in 2:09.18. Jamnong Muantawil of Thailand and Chong Mow Chai of Malaysia finished second and third at 2:10.45 and 2:13.27, respectively.

Openia clinched the shot put gold in 7.40m with countryman Augusto Hernandez capturing the silver in 7.14m and Brunei’s Shari Haji Jumaat taking the bronze in 6.88m.

The host team thus hiked its gold medal haul to seven but remained at seventh place in the medal tally.

RP also made a good account of itself in basketball as it ripped Malaysia, 75-49, late Friday at the Emilio Aguinaldo College in Taft Ave., Manila.

The Filipinos need to defeat the Thais in their last elimination round contest to enhance their bid for the gold in the event that was scrapped from the 23rd SEA Games calendar because of the country’s suspension by the International Basketball Federation.

Visually impaired Arnel Aba delivered RP’s first gold medal in Day 1 of the meet, backed by NBN 4, Manila City, American President Line, Pfizer, Inc., Red Ribbon, Crossover 105.1, DZSR Sports Radio, IBM, Mettephione and GSIS.

Then came the hosts’ three-gold splurge in chess Friday.

FIDE Master Sander Severino, a polio victim from Silay City in Negros Occidental, topped the individual event for the handicapped and led the RP squad to the team championship.

After three days of competition, Thailand remained atop the field with 55 gold, 31 silver and 12 bronze medals, followed by Malaysia with a 32-17-7 (gold-silver-bronze) haul, then Vietnam with 29-10-5.

Myanmar was at fourth with 13-4-3, Indonesia at fifth with 10-9-7 and Singapore at sixth with 10-4-5. The Philippines is seventh with 7-13-12.

Thailand and Malaysia struck hard in athletics yesterday, capturing 12 and 11 gold medals, respectively.

Prawat Wathoram (1500m), Kittisuk Sasom (1500m), Suphachal Songphinij (1500m), Sangat Chaikhini (1500m), Angcan Chanaboon (javelin), Jakkit Punthong (100m), Dayin Muneeprom (100m), Charam Kajomvech (100m), Somdee Wannagammiko (800m), Sangat Chaikhini (800m), Suneeport Tanomwong (800m) and Winai Sangchuachang (100m) were the day’s gold medalists for Thailand.