Lifter Dumapong falls short of Rio medal bid

MANILA, Philippines - Veteran powerlifter Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta fell short in her bid to join Filipina table tennis bronze medalist Josephine Medina in the honor roll of the Rio Paralympics as she faltered in the women’s -86kg competition Wednesday.

Dumapong-Ancheta failed to make a good lift on her attempts at 112, 116 and 121 kgs to kiss her medal hopes goodbye in the event that Nigerian Josephine Orji won via a new world and Paralympic record of 160 kgs. Polish Marzena Sieba (134) took the silver while Dutch Maleica Tuinfort (130kgs) copped the bronze.

“I lifted as best as I could but it wasn’t good enough for a good lift,” said Ancheta, the 2000 Paralympics third placer who competed on her fifth straight Games.

“It’s a challenge for me to work harder at my sport and have a go at it again in the next competitions,” she added.

Dumapong-Ancheta was the last to see action among five-member Team Philippines, which is coming home with a bronze medal courtesy of Medina.

The 46-year-old Medina broke a four-year wait for redemption in the games last Monday when she beat German Julianne Wolf for the women’s singles Class 8 bronze, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7.

“It’s really a hard and long road to Rio for me; there were several problems and trials but I never gave up because of my dream that someday in the field of table tennis, we’ll be able to bring honor and glory to the country and to prove that even though we’re a third world country, we can achieve excellence in our chosen sport,” she said.

Medina, a polio victim, hopes to provide inspiration especially to people with disabilities to never give up and continue to have faith.

“Never give up, no matter how hard the situation is; never complain, always find a way, an alternative and always take the righteous path; and put God first in everything you do,” she said.