ERNIE Gawilan became the first-ever Filipino gold medalist in the 2018 Asian Para Games, winning the men’s 200-meter individual medley on Sunday at the GBK Aquatic Center in Jakarta.
The 27-year-old Gawilan ruled the SM7 category with a time of two minutes and 52.43 seconds.
In the 2014, Gawilan delivered three of the Philippines' five bronze medals. The Philippine team also bagged five silver medals in Incheon.
In its maiden participation in the Asian Para Games in 2010, the Philippines had an output of 0-4-3.
Gawilan, from Davao, beat Chen Liang-Da of Chinese Taipei by three seconds, while Jadhav Suyash Narayan of India took the bronze.
Gawilan won a silver medal on Sunday in the men’s 50m freestyle S7 with a clocking of 31.93 seconds. Toh Wei Soong of Singapore copped the gold with a time of 29.01 seconds.
Gary Bejino bagged the bronze medal in the men’s 100m backstroke S6.
Also on Sunday, Achelle Guion claimed the silver medal in the women’s 45kg powerlifting competitions.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
