MANILA, Philippines – Filipino wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan hoped for a clement weather as he eyed a breakthrough athletics medal in the Paris Paralympics.
But it rained at the Stade de France and Mangliwan finished eighth and last in the final of the men’s 400m T52 on Friday, August 30 (Saturday, August 31, Manila time).
Enduring a slow start, the reigning Asian Para Games champion clocked 1 minute and 4.55 seconds in the event topped by world record holder Maxime Carabin of Belgium.
Carabin, who broke the Paralympics record with a time of 54.48 seconds in the heats, struck gold with 55.10 seconds as he dethroned Japan’s Tomoki Sato.
Sato settled for silver with 56.26 seconds as his attempt to catch up with Carabin fell short.
Another Japanese completed the podium, with 61-year-old Tomoya Ito bagging bronze with 1:01.08.
Despite placing last, Mangliwan — who owns the national record of 1:01.35 — still improved on his performance in the Tokyo Paralympics, where he initially finished fifth but got disqualified due to lane infringement.
The pride of Tabuk, Kalinga has one last shot at a medal when he competes in the men’s 100m T52 on Friday, September 6. – Rappler.com
