Ernie Gawilan wins Philippines' first gold at Asian Para Games

Filipino para swimmer Ernie Gawilan secured the Philippines’ first gold medal at the 5th Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan. Competing in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7, the 35-year-old from Davao City clocked a time of 4:56.72 to take the top spot.

Gawilan’s victory marks his third consecutive gold medal in this specific event, following previous wins at the 2018 Jakarta Games and the 2023 Hangzhou Games. His performance also earned him a qualification spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, as confirmed by national para swimming coach Tony Ong.

In the podium standings, China’s Zhang Yilong took silver with a time of 5:01.36, while Singapore’s Toh Wei Soong earned the bronze at 5:24.23. The win provides a significant boost for the Philippine delegation following mixed results in other disciplines such as track cycling and judo.