PARIS. – The last time he competed in his pet event, the men’s 400-meter T52 race at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2021, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan looked poised for a podium finish but entered the wrong lane at the critical homestretch and was disqualified.
That dismal experience and sorry lesson has been burning in Mangliwan’s memory for the last three years. He is keen on avoiding the same mistake in what could be his last crack at a medal when he competes in the 17th Paris Paralympic Games here.
Appearing in his third straight quadrennial meet in the biggest sports spectacle for the world’s physically-challenged athletes, Mangliwan, 44, is set to compete in the heats Friday at 11:13 a.m. (5:13 p.m. in Manila) at the sprawling Stade de France.
The pride of Tabuk, Kalinga, a gold medalist in the same event in last year’s Hangzhou Asian Para Games, hopes to make it to the finals at 19:14 p.m. (1:14 a.m. Saturday in Manila).
During his Paralympic Games failure in the Japanese capital, Mangliwan recalled that his desire to give his all near the finish line led to the costly mistake, which might have been avoided had coach Bernard Buen, who was quarantined in Tokyo due to COVID-19, was by his side.
This time, Buen will be by the athlete’s side to remind him how to race wisely and tactically in his bid for a medal.
“Given Mangliwan’s experience three years ago, alam na niya ang dapat gawin to prevent the same mistake from happening,” Buen said.
The coach said catching Belgian top favorite Maxime Carabin, who handily ruled the event on the same track at the world meet in 2023, was far-fetched but expressed hopes his prized ward was in the running for a bronze medal.
Mangliwan came from behind to win the event in one minute and .01.54 seconds in Hangzhou, surging past erstwhile frontrunner Ueyonabaru Hirota, a bronze medalist in the event in the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
“If Mangliwan keeps his presence of mind and follows our game plan to the letter, malaki ang pag-asa ni Jerrold manalo,” Buen said.
