JAKARTA – Margielyn Didal won a gold by ruling the women’s street event in skateboarding at Jakabaring Sports Complex in Palembang, assuring the country's best finish in the Asian Games in 12 years.
The 19-year-old Cebu City native scored 30.4 points in seven attempts to beat out Isa Kaya of Japan after the latter tallied 25 points. Bunga Nyimas of Indonesia scored 19.8 to claim the bronze medal.
Didal is one of the stars of the growing skateboarding scene back home. This year, she earned the distinction as the first Filipina to be invited to compete in the X-Games in Minneapolis.
The result means all four gold medals by the Philippines in this quadrennial showpiece have been won by women, counting Hidilyn Diaz's victory in weightlifting and the double-gold sweep of a women's golf team led by Yuka Saso.
The Philippines climbed to 16th spot in the medal tally with four golds and 13 bronzes - already its best finish since claiming four gold, six silver and nine bronze medals in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.
“Sobrang saya po,” said Didal, who was in tears while being interviewed by Filipino reporters in Palembang. “Binigay ko lahat para sa Pilipinas.”
Didal said her exposure in the X-Games as well as the 2018 Street League Skateboarding Open in London boosted her confidence ahead of the Asiad.
“Biggest skateboarding event in the world ‘yun,” said Didal, the second youngest among five siblings, who now stands to receive a P6-million windfall from the government and private sonsors.
A skateboarder for seven years, Didal had to stop after sustaining a fractured collar bone in 2014. She returned to competition only to suffer ankle injuries.
Didal now hopes the win will change how skateboard is seen in the Philippines.
“Sana mag-iba tingin ng tao sa skateboarding… Babaguhin natin ‘yung laro. Need natin ng support nila. Sana wag na tayo hulihin sa daan,” said Didal.
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