Medina on course for Paralympic gold

MANILA, Philippines - Filipina table tennis ace Josephine Medina stayed in the hunt for a coveted medal in the 2016 Paralympics as she marched into the semifinals of the women’s singles Class 8 yesterday at Riocentro Pavilion 3 in Rio de Janeiro.

Medina, the flag bearer of the Philippine delegation, battled back from a two-set deficit to beat Norwegian Aida Husic Dahlen in five sets, 3-2, and secure the second semis seat in Group B.

Dahlen zoomed to a 2-1 lead after the first three sets but the 46-year-old Medina refused to roll over and die, drawing level with an 11-2 win in the fourth and eventually outsteadying the Norwegian in the decider, 11-8.

Medina finished group play with a 1-1 record for second behind unbeaten topnotcher Mao Jingdian. Mao earlier got the better of the Pinay, 11-3, 11-4, 11-6, on the first day of action.

The Philippines’ bet guns for a berth in the gold medal match against Group A No. 1 Thu Kamkasomphou of France. The other semifinal pairing puts Mao against Juliane Wolf of Germany.

Medina is looking to make it to the podium this year after falling a win short of a bronze medal in 2012 in London.

Medina’s semis stint made up for Team Philippines’ losses in other fronts, where swimmer Ernie Gawilan and wheelchair racer Jerrold Pete Mangliwan failed to advance to the finals of their respective opening events.

Gawilan submitted 4:54.24 for fifth in Heat 1 and 10th overall in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S8 category, where Oliver Hind of Great Britain set a new world and Paralympic record of 4:21.89. 

Mangliwan, for his part, clocked a new personal best of 20.04 seconds but that wasn’t enough to propel him to the finals in the men’s 100m T52. Mangliwan ranked seventh in Heat 2.