KUALA LUMPUR – Cendy Asusano, a mother of three-year old girl, ruled her favorite event-javelin throw F54/55 to give Philippines its first gold in the 9th ASEAN Para Games on Monday.
Asusano’s sterling performance of 13.04 meters was posted in her third attempt of the field event in athletics held at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil here.
Actually, it was a 1-2 finish for the Philippines in the event as Jesebel Tordecilla of Quezon province captured the silver with a hurl of 12.8 meters. Compatriot and veteran Marites Burce of Roxas, Isabela fell short of a grand slam after finishing fourth.
“Lagi lang ako nagdadasal na bigyan ako ng Panginoon ng lakas at sana magtagumpay,” said the teary-eyed Asusano, a native of Albay, Bicol and a newcomer of the games.
“Inaalay ko itong panalo ko, una sa Dios, sa ating bansa at pamilya ko,” said the 27 year-old Asusano, whose efforts is a testament of her dedication and perseverance in the sports which was introduced to her by fellow para athlete (wheelchair basketball) who is the father of her daughter –Shantal Mengarine.
“Gusto ko ipakita na kaya kahit may kapansanan ako,” said Asusano, who was diagnosed of spina bpda since birth.
Asusano, who now lives in Santo Rosario, Bulacan, also expressed gratitude to her parents, relatives and friends who supported her not only emotionally but also financially which include her monthly cost of room rental in ULTRA during the course of her training since January this year.
Asusano is a double gold medalist (javelin and discuss throw events ) in the 2015 Philippine National Games (PNG), a sports program of Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the government sports body.
In the other athletic events, Jeanette Aceveda and Rosalie Torrefiel placed 4th and 5th, respectively in the women’s discus throw F12 while Bernie Bohol landed 5th in the men’s 100 meter T54.
Arthus Bucay also gave the Philippines another medal after finishing second in the men’s C5 4,000-meter Individual Pursuit event of the 9th ASEAN Para Games cycling competition on Monday at the National Velodrome in Nilai.
The 36-year-old rider from Marikina registered the second-best time of 5:15.57 to win the silver while Malaysian Ahmad Tarmizi Zuhaire claimed the gold medal with a time of 5:06.968.
The bronze medal went to Indonesian Sufyan Saori, who clocked 5:42.279.
Bucay, a double-gold winner in the Asian Para Cycling Championships in 2012 (Malaysia) and 2013 (India), delivered the country’s first silver medal last Sunday in the men’s C5 1km Individual Time Trial event, which was also dominated by Zuhaire.
Bucay, also a bronze medalist in the Individual Time Trial event in the 2014 Incheon Asian Para Games, is also entered in the road race event which will be held on Wednesday and Thursday in Putrajaya.
The other Filipinos entered in the road race are veterans Godfrey Tabuena and newcomer Joel Tacu Taco.
The 38-year old Tabuena of Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya, has been with the national team since 2010. He is also a veteran of the Asian Para Cycling Championships and the 2014 Incheon Asian Para Games.
The three cyclists underwent a four-month rigorous training under coach Norberto Oconer at the Amoranto Velodrome in Quezon City. Oconer is a veteran of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.