Chess team hikes Filipinos Para Games gold haul

KUALA LUMPUR – The Filipino chess players pulled out a big surprise after capturing six gold medals to boost the Philippines’ quest in the ongoing 5th Southeast Asian Para Games at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil here.

Sander Severino retained his title for the third time since 2005 Manila meet in the men’s physically-handicapped event where teammate Henry Roger Lopez finished second to also win the team event’s gold in the 11-nation biennial meet for athletes with disabilities.

Abraham Peligro and Melchor Ireneo Pizzario Jr. have been awarded the gold medal along with Malaysian Cho Min Wang for finishing tied in the men’s visually impaired class where the Filipinos also won the team event as well as the totally-blind class team event.

“It’s a big surprise because I was just expecting two gold medals and I want to thank our supporters,” headcoach grandmaster Joey Antonio said, referring to Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte, Councilor Ariel Inton and Meralco Chess Club.

With the chess team’s performance, the Team Philippines bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has increased its gold medal haul to sixteen, one gold short of equaling the 17 medals it won two years ago in Thailand.

The athletics improved its gold medal run to seven after Joel Balatucan retained the gold after breaking his own meet record in the men’s shot put event for polio victims, setting a new mark of 8.43 meters.

The 28-year-old Balatucan, who joined athletics’ gold winners Jerold Pete Mangliwan (men’s wheelchair 100m and 400m), Juanito Mingarine (men’s shot put T54), Prudencia Panaligan (women’s 100m T53) and Marites Burce (women’s discuss throw and shot put).