HANGZHOU. – National para swimming official Tony Ong was quite apologetic when he met with Commissioners Walter Torres and Ed Hayco after swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino won bronze medals in the 4th Hangzhou Asian Para Games Monday night.
He especially felt bad for the legless Gawilan, the defending men’s 200-meter individual medley champ, who finished third in two minutes and 58.82 seconds behind two Chinese bets — Huang Xiangquan (2:48.34) and Yang Huaquian (2:50.73), who finished 1-2, respectively, at the Hangzhou Olympic Center Aquatic Arena.
Although all three were vying in the S7 class, the edge of the hometown campaigners was readily apparent — both had legs and one fully functioning arm each, compared to the Pinoy tanker, whose left arm is shorter than the right.
“Sorry sirs, we were expecting something better, especially for Ernie, but this was all we could offer,” Ong told the two PSC officials.
“Naitago nila (Chinese) ‘yung nag-gold medal sa amin. We were unable to scout him.
Mukhang itinago nila. But we can no longer complain since these are their classification based on assessment made before the races,” Ong noted.
He said the same situation could be said of Bejino, a double gold medalist in the last Cambodia Para Games, who also wound up with a bronze in the men’s 100-meter freestyle S6 finals, clocking 1:12.76 in foiling a 1-2-3 Chinese finish.
“Masaya na rin po ako dahil ako pa rin ang nakapagbigay ng unang medalya sa ating muli sa Asian Para Games,” Gawilan, 32, said without any hint of bitterness in his voice.
“Both of you don’t have to feel bad because you did your best for flag and country. You should be proud of your accomplishments,” Torres, who has oversight over the PSC’s para athletic programs, told the swimmers in encouragement.
Gawilan had no time to dwell on the negatives of his initial outing in the competition supported by the Philippine Sports Commission considering that he had to plunge back into action the next day in a bid to retain the men’s 400-meter freestyle crown.
“Sisikapin kong manalo at makapagbigay ng ginto para ganahan ang mga ibang atleta natin,” he said with a look of resolve on his face.