PARIS – Para archer Agustina Bantiloc shot 618 points and landed last among 28 participants in the ranking round of the women’s individual archery event of the 17th Paris Paralympic Games here Thursday afternoon (Thursday night in Manila).
Under cool and slightly windy conditions at the Les Invalides shooting range, Bantiloc, 56, struggled to keep her focus and pace with the best para archers in the world. She will play in the knockout stage on Friday afternoon to keep her campaign alive.
The Tanudan, Kalinga pre-drew Brazilian veteran Jane Karla Kogel, a four-time Parapan American Games gold medalist, who finished No. 5 overall in the ranking round with a score of 691 points, as her opponent.
They are scheduled to meet at 3:17 p.m. (9:17 p.m. in Manila) for a spot in the next round.
“I am happy with what I performed because I believe that I did my best,” Bantiloc pointed out in the post-match interview while acknowledging her debut in the Paralympic Games gave her jitters that resulted in the low score in the stint supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
But she promised to do better, saying the challenge was no different in rearing her three children, whom she sent to college and completed their degrees in Environmental Science, Information Technology, and Education, respectively.
“I think that Tina (Bantiloc’s nickname) might have been awed at the moment, this being her first Paralympic Games. She might have been distracted which resulted in the low scores,” noted coach Jonathan Josol.
“Para archery is 90 percent mental and if you can focus on your shooting alone and nothing else then half the battle is won,” said the bespectacled coach. “What is important is that we do well in the knockout round and I believe Tina can do that. This is the important round because we are battling for medals.
Also set to compete Friday is Hangzhou Asian Para Games gold medalist Jerrold Mangliwan, who will see action in his favorite event, the men’s 400-meter T52 race, in the first heat at 11:13 a.m. (5:13 p.m. in Manila) at the 75,000-capacity Stade de France.
He was drawn in the heat together with defending Paralympic Games champion Maxime Carabin of Belgium, Mexico’s Salvador Mondragon, Switzerland’s Fabian Blum, and Japan’s Ito Itsuya, with the top three finishers advancing to the finals at 19:14 (1:14 p.m. Saturday in Manila).
