With a blistering 1.96 seconds record, a swimmer from Silay City, Negros Occidental took home the gold medal in the Asian Youth Paralympic Games over the weekend in Manama, Bahrain.
Negrense para swimmer Ariel Joseph Alegarbes delivered three medals, including a gold in the prestigious event.
Alegarbes clinched a gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly S14 multiclass for boys 17-18 years old with a time of one minute and 1.96 seconds.
At 17, the Pinoy tanker hammered Japanese Rei Kagose who settled for the silver medal with his time of 1:02.74, and Thailand’s W. In-Choo who finished with the bronze medal with 1:06.93.
Aside from a gold medal finish, he also delivered a silver medal in the SB14 100-meter breaststroke event with a time of one minute and 17.75 seconds. He also finished second in the men’s 100 meter backstroke event.
According to national swim team coach Tony Ong, the success of Alegarbes is a good sign for the Philippine para sports. “He’s our future in Philippine para sports.”
The Palarong Pambansa silver medal winner who has intellectual impairment gave the country its first gold in the Asian Youth Paralympic Games. This was also Team Philippines’ first medal since capturing a bronze medal in 2017 at Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Alegarbes will have a chance to get a double gold as he tries to plunge back into action on Dec. 6 for the 200 meter individual medley.
Ronn Russel Mitra, on the other hand, clinched a silver medal for the Philippine delegation, settling for a runner-up finish in the men’s T20 400 meter run.
The Santa, Rosa, Laguna native Mitra blasted Korea’s Youngsik Mun for the silver; he was just 0.07 faster with his 54.65 finish. Thailand’s Natapon Kaewmanee took the gold with 54.10.IMT Sports
