MANILA – Javelin thrower Cendy Asusano will carry the Philippine flag, instead of swimmer Angel Mae Otom, during the Paris Paralympics closing ceremony on Sunday at the Stade de France.
The announcement was made in a news release from the Philippine Sports Commission Saturday.
The wheelchair-bound Asusano registered a personal best of 15.05 meters and finished fourth in the F54 category.
Otom, who reached the finals of her two events at the Paris La Défense Arena, was the first choice as flag-bearer.
She placed fifth in the women’s 50m butterfly S5 event with a personal best time of 45.78 seconds, and was sixth in the 50m backstroke (44s).
“We made a last-minute decision that it would be Asusano and not Angel Mae Otom would be the standard-bearer at the closing ceremonies. Cendy will likely get help from taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin, who will be pushing her wheelchair,” Team Philippines chef de mission Ral Rosario said. (PNA)
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