Philippine Para Chess Team Clinches Five Golds, Secures Historic Ninth Place in Asian Para Games

Hangzhou — In a remarkable display of skill and determination, the Philippine para chess team bagged five gold medals in the rapid event on the final day of the 4th Hangzhou Asian Para Games. The wins propelled the country to a historic ninth place in the overall medal standings.

According to a news release by Philippines News Agency, the Filipino chessers dominated the men’s PI (Physically Impaired) and B2-B3 divisions, as well as the women’s PI category. The team’s performance was highlighted by Atty. Cheyzer Crystal Mendoza, who captured the gold in the women’s PI division, and Darry Bernardo, an Asian Para Games rookie, who clinched an improbable victory against Indonesia’s Adji Hartono in the men’s B1-B2 event.

Bernardo and Menandro Redor emerged as the most decorated athletes from the Philippines, each securing three gold medals. Their efforts helped the 72-member Philippine contingent match its 2018 Jakarta Asian Games gold tally and achieve its best-ever placement in the Asian Para Games, three places higher than its previous best five years ago. This was despite the team having fewer silver and bronze medals this year, with counts of four and five, respectively, compared to eight and eleven in the previous games.

Henry Roger Lopez, a veteran in the field, won a decisive match against teammate Jasper Rom to secure a double gold in the men’s PI division, both in team and individual events. Lopez’s win was also assisted by a draw in the last round between Iran’s Aski Kazemian and Indonesia’s Tirto, which allowed him to take the gold. National para chess head coach James Infiesto explained the significance of the draw, stating that it enabled Lopez to clinch the top honor.

Jasper Rom, whose parents passed away during the event, expressed pride in being part of Lopez’s victory, highlighting the team spirit that contributed to the Philippine squad’s strong performance. Atty. Cheyzer Crystal Mendoza, who also began her event with a loss but eventually claimed gold, emphasized the importance of her recovery in the later rounds.

The team’s performance exceeded its previous best from the 2018 Jakarta Asian Para Games, which had a haul of five golds, two silvers, and six bronzes. Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo congratulated the team, acknowledging the hard work and proper preparations that led to the historic result.