Chess bets add 3 golds to PH haul

- Advertisement -

HANGZHOU. – Often overlooked in the past, the men’s B2-B3 squad bannered by low-key Menandro Redor took the spotlight for the Philippine para chess team in the 4th Hangzhou Asian Games here Thursday.

Redor anchored a sweep of the men’s team and individual golds while Atty. Cheyzer Crystal Mendoza had a third mint in the women’s individual PI contest on top of a pair of silvers and bronzes that boosted the country to 12th overall in the medal standings midway through the games.

Competing in his second Asian Para Games, Redor held top seed Atabayev Aygdogdy of Turkmenistan to a draw in the seventh and final round to emerge as the country’s first double gold medalist in the continental sportsfest.

- Advertisement -

Redor, who has less than 10 percent vision on both eyes, finished with 5.5 points, tied for first with Iranian Amir Rabbi Khorasgani, but took the gold after the tiebreak, having battled stronger players through the seven-round series.

Armand Subaste emerged as the next best local player with four points after a final-round draw with Tajikistan’s Suhrob Hamdamov as the Pinoy squad, which includes Darry Bernardo, finished with 9.5 points to clinching the team gold.

Mendoza added the third gold in chess despite losing to Mongolia’s Khisigbayar Migjee in the last round of the women’s individual standard PI event with a final score of 5.5 points, the same output of Indonesia’s Yuni who beat compatriot Lilis Herna Yulia in the other match.

Mendoza took the mint via the winner-over-the-other rule, having beaten the Indon in the previous rounds.

A fourth gold was in the offing later in the day with Ernie Gawilan aiming to retain the men’s 100-meter backstroke S7 title at the HOC Aquatic Arena.

Their accomplishments softened somewhat the setback suffered by their teammates in the men’s PI event where they were dethroned in both the team and individual events by Indonesia following the setback of FIDE Master Sander Severino to veteran No. 1 Tirto in the final round.

Severino, who led the squad to a sweep of both events in the 2018 Jakarta Games, settled for the individual bronze medal while Henry Roger Lopez copped the silver behind Tirto following his final-round win over Mongolian Sundui Sonom.

“We were actually eyeing six golds entering today’s round but the strategy and the breaks didn’t go our way,” said national para chess coach James Infiesto. “Luckily, we won half of our goals today.

“Actually, we are still on target. Puwede pa siyang madagdagan,” stressed Infiesto as he looked forward to the first two rounds of the rapid event Thursday afternoon, adding “the rapid game is one of our forte since we play it often back in our country.”

 

Author

- Advertisement -

Share post: