Japan rules Asian paratriathlon

MANILA, Philippines — Japan showed anew its supremacy in Asian paratriathlon powerhouse by winning six  of the eight classes even as the Philippines took  first places in both male and female divisions Friday in the Mt. Mayon ASTC Asian Paratriathlon Championships held for the first time in Legazpi.

World Cup silver  medalist Kaji Tetsuki bested paratriathletes from eight  countries, in  one hour, 4 minutes, 40 seconds for the 750m swim-20K bike-5K run to win the Men-PT55 category.

Japan swept the Men-PTWC class through Jumpei Kimura  (1:03.20), Ryota Yoshida (1:05.41) and Seiji Tanaka  (1:10.36).

In the M-PTVI where the Philippines fielded blind twins Joshua and Jerome Nelmida, Hong Kong’s Kim Wa Chu  broke the Japanese streak  in 1:05.18.

Jerome Nelmida  was the best placed local entry at seventh (1:19.26) even as he and brother Joshua  got the biggest applause along the race route. Joshua  finished last in 1:26.38.

“We gave it our best and for me, this  is my biggest race, just hearing the people cheering us in the bike  lap really touched me, “ said Jerome, who will be eyeing the 2020 ASEAN Paragames with his twin brother.

The Phl campaign suffered  a double blow in the M-PTS4 ruled by China’s Jiachao Wang (1:04.25) as Cebuano Alex Silverio and Sixto Ducay were disqualified. Silverio made the wrong turn  in the swim leg, while Ducay failed to complete all the bike loops. Ducay could have made it in third place if  not for his disqualification.

“It was unfortunate what happened to Silverio and Ducay, but overall, this was a very good race with 11 Asian countries participating, including the Asia Cup race  today, we are also very happy with our local organizing group the city government of Legazpi City headed by Mayor Noel Rosal, we look forward to seeing more triathlon races in this area where racing conditions are ideal,” said Triathlon Association president Tom Carrasco Jr.

Cebu natives  Kim Remolino (1:00.15) and Karen Manayo (1:08.58) gave local people reasons to rejoice as they won in their respective categories in the Junior Elite. 

The other winners:PTS2 Kenshiro Nakayama (1:17.58), Kenji Hashimoto (1:30.02), lone entries Wakako Tsuchida, W-PTWC (1:11.32), Yukako Hata, W-PTS2 (1:25.58)   and the pair of Maruo Atsuku and Keiko Suzuki in the W-PTVI with Atsuku finishing first in 1:20.19 and Suzuki submitted a finishing time of 1:16.17.