Filipina wins bronze medal in table tennis at Rio Paralympics
The Philippines bags its first medal in the Rio Paralympics as Josephine Medina wins bronze at the Rio Paralympics in the table tennis event on September 12.
JOSEPHINE MEDINA. Table tennis player from PH wins bronze in Paralympics. (Image by Richard Kalocsai via new.ittf.com)
According to a report by GMA News, Medina scored 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 against 2015 European Para Championships silver medalist Julianne Wolf. The 46-year old debuted for the country in 2006, where she placed 4th in the 2012 London Paralympics. Medina also defeated Norway’s Aida Husic Dahlen during the preliminary rounds, but eventually lost to China’s Jingdian Mao from China.
In an interview with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Medina expressed her happiness in her win. “I have been praying to God that one day the Philippines would win a medal; the last time in London, I came so close I finished in fourth place,” said Medina.
Being a polio victim, table tennis served as a therapy for Medina. “When you play, you must believe and you must give absolutely everything; now the Philippines will not return home without a medal,” added Medina.
In a report by Philippine Star, the Philippine Team for the Paralympics is composed of five athletes in 4 sports events namely Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta (women’s powerlifting) and Agustin Kitan (men’s powerlifting), Ernie Gawilan (swimming) and Jerrold Pete Mangliwan (wheelchair racing).
Source: Interaksyon, GMA News, PhilStar
