RANGED against Paris Paralympic Games veteran and Asea Para Games medalist Agustina Bantiloc, Elizabeth Bayla refused to blink.
Bayla, 56, won a battle of skill and nerves, edging Bantiloc 132-131 for the gold medal in the 15-arrow Olympic round women’s compound archery finals of the National Para Games yesterday at the Rizal Memorial ballpark range.
In a battle between two Baguio-based para archers, Bayla, whose left leg was amputated from the knee down, had played second fiddle to the wheelchair-bound Bantiloc in the 72-arrow elimination round with 637 points to her rival’s 639.
When it came down to the final arrow in the finals, Bayla shot closer to the bulls-eye in fashioning the stunning upset over her fancied rival in the competition organized by the Philippine Paralympic Committee and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission.
“Mahigpit ang laban namin (ni Bantiloc). Kahit sino pwedeng manalo sa amin,’’ said the newly-minted champ, who shifted to the compound event after bagging the women’s recurve open gold during the 2019 edition of the meet in Malolos, Bulacan
“With my score, qualified na ako sumali sa international competitions,’’ said Bayla, who is bidding to compete in the Asean Para Games and Asian Para Games in 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand and Nagoya, Japan, respectively.
Like Bantiloc, her ultimate quest is to reach the Paralympic Games, possibly in the 2028 edition in Los Angeles.
“Siyempre, lahat naman kami nangangarap na makapunta sa Paralympics,’’ she said, beaming.
In chess, FIDE Master Sander Severino led after the first two rounds of the men’s PI (Physically Impaired) men’s standard chess event of the meet supported by Sen. Bong Go, Chooks to Go and Aice Ice Cream.
During the intermission between rounds, Severino thanked the PPC and PSC for the return of the meet intended to discover a new generation of outstanding national para athletes for international competition.
“Isang event lang po ang puwede naming salihan, para po mabigyan ng tsansa ang ibang manlalaro na madiskober at mas makapanalo ng mga gintong medalya,” noted the Silay, Negros Occidental native of the restrictions placed upon national para athletes during the tournament.
“Gusto ko lang po magpasalamat sa PSC saka sa PPC sa patuloy nilang pagbibigay ng pag-asa sa ibang mga kapwa naming may disabilities at sana po ay maka-encourage pa rin tayo ng mas marami pang atleta,” he added.
Leo Macalanda gave Pangasinan its first gold, beating Pasig City’s Jayson Ocampo in the men’s Single class 7 in table table.
