PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Thanks to the country’s top chessers, members of Team Philippines will go home with heads held high after collecting 34 gold medals at the close of the 12th ASEAN Para Games Friday here.
The gold haul was six more than what it won in Indonesia last year, giving athletes and officials something to be proud of.
Darry Bernardo, Cheyzer Crystal Mendoza and Sander Severino were the final day heroes for Team PH after ruling their respective divisions.
Bernardo, who is visually impaired, won the men’s individual B2-B3 and team with Arman Subaste and Menandro Redor.
Mendoza, a lawyer by profession, ruled the women’s individual blitz PI and team event with Cheryl Angot and Jean-Lee Nacita.
The wheelchair-bound Severino, a former world champion, topped the men’s individual and team event with Felix Aguilera and Henry Lopez.
In all, the James Infiesto-mentored chess team collected 13 golds, improving its 10-gold harvest last year.
The team also produced the top two most bemedalled athletes in the PH contingent, with Bernardo pocketing six golds and Mendoza contributing five.
Angel Mae Otom secured four gold medals for the swimming squad, which bagged 10 gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals to finish sixth, behind Thailand (34-29-33), Vietnam (28-19-26), Indonesia (27-37-24), Malaysia (26-12-10) and Singapore (11-10-8).
With its 34-gold, 33-silver and 50-bronze output, Team Philippines has duplicated its fifth-place finish in Surakarta, Indonesia.
As expected, Indonesia topped the overall championship for the third time with 153 golds, 141 silvers and 93 bronzes with Thailand finishing second with 123 golds, 107 silvers and 92 bronzes, followed by Vietnam (66-56-78) and Malaysia (47-38-35).
“I am honored and overjoyed to congratulate our athletes for their remarkable performances and astounding achievements in the 12th ASEAN Para Games. These achievements have not only brought glory once again to the Philippines but also serve as inspirations and motivations to future generations of para-athletes,” said Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner and Team Philippines chef-de-mission Walter Francis Torres on Friday.
