Medal remains elusive for Philippine Paralympics team

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino struggled in the face of strong foreign challenge as the Philippines continued its search for a coveted medal in the Tokyo Paralympics yesterday.

Gawilan and Bejino failed to make the finals in their events with the former finishing 10th in 100-meter backstroke (S7) in one minute and 21.60 seconds and the latter winding up 14th in the 50m butterfly (S6) in 36.14 seconds at the Tokyo Aquatics Center.

It was a heartbreaking result for Gawilan, who swam his last event after ending up sixth in the 400m freestyle (S7) Sunday and ninth in the 200m individual medley (SM7) Friday.

This left Bejino, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan and taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin to carry the fight for a country chasing its first Paralympic gold medal. Bejino has two events remaining -- the 400m free (S6) Thursday and 100m back (S6) on Friday – while Mangliwan is scheduled to race in the 100m (T52) Thursday at the Olympic Stadium.

Ganapin, for his part, will compete in the 75-kilogram class (K44) on Friday at the Makuhari Messe Hall B.