MANILA, Philippines – Team Philippines ended up without a medal for the second straight Paralympics as para javelin thrower Cendy Asusano fell short of a podium spot.
Asusano finished fourth in the women’s javelin throw F54 in the Paris Paralympics despite a personal-best performance at the Stade de France on Saturday, September 7.
The reigning Asian Para Games champion, Asusano registered a new personal best of 15.05 meters but missed out on a breakthrough para athletics medal as she wrapped up the Philippines’ campaign.
“My target was to surpass my personal best. I’m proud that I did it,” said Asusano, the 34-year-old Sorsogon native who had a previous best of 15.04.
Uzbekistan’s Nurkhon Kurbanova shattered her own world record with 21.12m, breaking her previous mark of 20.73m to capture the gold after settling for silver in the Tokyo Paralympics.
Nigeria’s Flora Ugwunwa failed to defend her Paralympic throne and bagged silver instead with 19.26m, while Iran’s Elham Salehi clinched bronze with 16.24m.
The competition bore the same results of the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, in May, with Kurbanova, Ugwunwa, and Salehi completing the podium and Asusano placing fourth.
Still, Asusano represented the country well in her Paralympic debut as she notched the highest finish out of the Philippines’ six representatives in these Games.
Para swimmer Angel Otom, who will carry the flag in the closing ceremony, previously held the distinction after ranking fifth in the women’s 50m butterfly S5 final.
The Philippines has yet to win a Paralympic medal since para table tennis player Josephine Medina claimed bronze in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro edition.
Before Medina, the country endured a 16-year drought after para powerlifter Adeline Dumapong won the Philippines’ first-ever Paralympic medal with a bronze in the 2000 Sydney Games. – Rappler.com
