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[av_heading heading=’ PH snares 20 Para Games golds, lands 5th place ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Monday. September 25, 2017
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MANILA – While it fell short of its 27 gold medal prediction, the Philippine delegation still had a much-improved fifth place finish in the 9th ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Josephine Medina delivered the country’s 20th and final gold medal on Saturday as she toppled Suwarti of Indonesia 12-10, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9 in the women’s table tennis finale at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
Ahead two sets to one and at match point at 10-9, Medina scored a soft forehand that hit the top of the net and landed on the board for the game-winner after the lady umpire called it a point for the Philippines.
Suwarti and her coach didn’t like the call, saying the ball bounced on the table just once, not twice. But after a consultation with the scorer and a higher tournament official, the decision stuck.
“They (Suwarti and her coach) told me the call was wrong,” said Medina. “But I told them it was not my fault and call. It was the umpire who made the decision, and we should respect it.”
Medina, a bronze medalist in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics, will go home with two medals, including the team bronze alongside Minnie de Ramos in the higher S9-S10 class.
The Para Games officially ended on Saturday evening.
Team Philippines ended its campaign in fifth place with 20 gold, 20 silver and 29 bronze medals – a significant improvement to its 16-17-26 medal haul and seventh place finish in the 2015 Singapore edition.
“We went home with 20 golds – four more than what we took home from Singapore. And that’s all that matters,” said Team Philippines chef de mission Ral Rosario. “It was still a proud accomplishment.”
“We’re hosting the 10th ASEAN Para Games two years from now, and we have to start the preparations as soon as we get back,” said Michael Barredo, newly elected president of the Philippine Paralympic Committee./PN
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