Otom emerges as Phl’s top performer

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand — Swimmer Angel Otom will head home with five gold medals and a silver dangling around her neck after a fruitful campaign in the 13th ASEAN Para Games.

Otom bagged her fifth top finish Saturday after ruling the 50-meter freestyle S4-S5 at the 80th Birthday Aquatics Center with a time of 44.51 seconds to emerge as the most accomplished athlete of the 200-plus Philippine delegation to this biennial sportsfest for differently-abled athletes.

The 2024 Paris Paralympian could not help but get awed by her showing, which is one gold better than her previous production in Cambodia in 2023.

“During the ASEAN Para Games in Cambodia, I didn’t win my fifth gold because I felt like I wasn’t ready yet.”

Gary Bejino clinched his third gold medal after clocking in 33.23 seconds in the men’s 50-meter freestyle S6 event while Marco Tinamisan conquered the men’s 50m freestyle S3 in 52.13 seconds.

In chess, Sander Severino and Darry Bernardo led the Filipino woodpushers to grab four gold medals in the Standard Time Control category at the Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University.

Severino, a FIDE Master, tallied 5.5 points to rule in the men’s individual PI event before joining forces with Jasper Rom at Henry Roger Lopez for the men’s team PI mint.

The 25-year-old Bernardo struck gold in the B2 men’s division and won the team B2 event with Arman Subaste at Menandro Redor.

More gold medals are expected on the final day of competition on Sunday, as the Philippines is on the verge of breaching the 30-gold-medal mark with 28 at press time.