SURAKARTA, Indonesia. – From being a young hyperactive asthmatic and dyslexic to an outstanding para swimmer in just a span of six years, Ariel Joseph Alegarbes’s athletic career has been nothing short but amazing.
After his successful stint in the Asian Youth Para Games in Manama, Bahrain last December, Alegarbes, whose father Abner introduced him to swimming at the age of 12 to overcome his chronic asthma, continued his improbable victorious run Tuesday in the 11th Asean Para Games here.
The 18-year-old native of Victoria, Negros Oriental made waves in his debut in the regional sportsfest, posting a record-breaking double at the Jatadiri Sports Complex pool in Semarang.
Sharing the spotlight were the Filipino para chess players, who were in a class of their own, delivering four golds courtesy of a sweep of the men’s individual and team in the standard events of the P1 and B1-B3 categories, respectively, at the Lorin-Hotel here.
FIDE Master Sander Severino and Menandro Redor reigned supreme in the men’s individual P1 and B1-B3 divisions, respectively, while anchoring their teams to victory and joining Alegarbes as the country’s early double gold medalists.
The country’s track and field team continued to have a productive campaign Tuesday at the Manahan Stadium, with runner and newcomer King James Reyes and veteran thrower Jesebel Tordecilla boosting the athletic haul to four golds, and counting.
With the production of chess, swimming and athletics, the PH para-athletes had 13 gold, 11 silver and 20 bronze medals so far as they pressed to eclipse the tally of 20 golds, 20 silvers and 29 bronzes of the country in winding up fifth overall in the Malaysian Games in 2017.
Before a lean yet animated Filipino crowd, among them his father Abner, Alegarbes had an unforgettable outing, ruling the men’s 100-meter backstroke S14 event in thrilling fashion, surging in the last 10 meters to win by a touch in one minute and .03.01 seconds.
He nipped Malaysia’s Muhammad Imaan Aiman, who had taken the lead at the 75-meter mark but lost team and settled for the silver in 1:03.20, while Thailand’s Mrjirachot Chuvong was a distant third in 1:11.68.
