Chessers strike, as expected, in Para Games
There was a lot of talk on how satisfying the performance of the national para games delegation was, even before the chess team—traditionally a strong gold producer for the country—began its bid in the tournament.
True enough, the woodpushers came through.
The Philippines collected four gold medals in para chess, led by veterans Sander Severino and Darry Bernardo, to remain fourth overall in the medal standings of the Asean Para Games on Saturday.
Filipinos finished the three-day Standard Time Control competitions at Rajabhat University in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, with four golds, two silvers and four bronzes.
Severino, a 40-year-old FIDE Master, reclaimed the individual PI men’s title with 5.5 points to secure his first gold of the Games. He later teamed up with Jasper Rom and Henry Roger Lopez to win gold in the PI men’s team event. Rom settled for silver in the individual PI men’s competition with 4.5 points.
The latest triumphs brought Severino’s career haul at the Asean Para Games to nine golds, one silver and two bronzes. He also owns five golds, one silver and one bronze from the Asian Para Games.
Bernardo, 25, also delivered for the national team, scoring 5.5 points to win gold in the individual B2 men’s category. He followed that up by joining Arman Subaste and Menandro Redor in capturing another gold in the B2 men’s team event.
The Philippines added two silver medals through Rom and Kyla Jane Langue, who finished runner-up in the individual PI men’s and individual B1 women’s events, respectively.
Cheyzer Crystal Mendoza placed third in the individual PI women’s event and added another bronze in the team PI women’s competition alongside Cheryl Angot and Jean-lee Nacita. Subaste earned bronze in the individual B2 men’s event, while Langue, Katrina Mangawang and Evangeline Gamao finished on the podium in the team B1 women’s category.
With two days remaining in para chess, the Philippine team is eyeing additional medals in the blitz and rapid events.
In other events, para swimmer Marco Tinamisan contributed another gold for the country after winning the men’s 50-meter (m) freestyle S3 in 52.13 seconds. Tinamisan, who previously collected two silvers in the mixed 4x50m freestyle relay and the men’s 200m freestyle S3-S4, competes without the use of his lower body and races using a skateboard.
Meanwhile, the Philippine para athletics team continued to lead the country, tallying 11 golds, eight silvers and 11 bronzes after Day 3—already surpassing its medal output from the 2023 Cambodia edition, where it finished with 10 golds, 10 silvers and 11 bronzes.
