JOSEPHINE Medina of the Philippines kept an old rivalry from taking place again.
She played the spoilers’ role, created a stir when she got in the way of a looming fight among two top European players in the battle for the bronze medal of the women’s singles class 8 on Monday afternoon at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
The 46-year-old Medina, a polio victim, was a longshot in her quest for a medal.
But she overcame great odds to upset Germany’s Julianne Wolf, the silver medallist at the 2015 European Para Championships, and came away with an 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 triumph at the Riocentro Pavilion.
Medina, who is afflicted with polio on her right leg, said prayers won the day for her.
She is now expected to receive a cash prize of P1-million for feat, according to Republic Act 10699.
Fans were looking in the other direction, as they were expecting Wolf to meet an old rival, European champion Aida Dahlen in the medal rounds.
“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, who hails from Marikina City, in a statement posted on the International Table Tennis Federation website.
She said the competition was tough.
And after Medina prevailed over Dahlen of Norway, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6, in the preliminaries, everything turned around in her favor.
“…when I beat Aida Dahlen and qualified for the main draw, for God nothing is impossible!” said Medina. Peter Atencio
Dahlen, who was looking forward to avenging her loss to Wolf in the European finals, would eventually bow out of contention after she lost both her games, including a 4-11, 5-11, 6-11 setback to Mao Jingdian, the eventual gold medal winner.
In the main draw, Medina advanced to the medal round after she turned back French rival Thu Kamkasomphou, 11-5, 11-8, 11-9, to arrange a bronze medal clash with Wolf.
Jingdian then won over Kamkasomphou, 11-6, 11-8, 11-3, for the gold.
It was a big win for Medina, because Aida Dahlen had been Wolf’s arch-rival , at the European Para Championships in Vejle, Denmark.
The two were expected to fight it out again after Wolf beat Dahlen with a memorable 11-7, 7-11, 6-11, 13-11, 11-9 triumph.
Medina said she dedicated her win to her father, a former national player.
“My father was on the national team. I was sick as I was a polio victim and table tennis is my therapy. I used to compete with able-bodied athletes and qualified for the national team but they told me you cannot be in the national team for the able-bodied as you are disabled,” said Medina.
She said the rejection has become her inspiration, “I train hard and I just want to prove that disability is not a hindrance in achieving your goal. It’s just an instrument in reaching success in your life.”
Her dad died in 2004, according to Medina, and it was the lowest point of her life.
Medina’s father was working in Saudi Arabia when he died of a heart attack, and was coaching for the Royal Saudi Air Force at that time.
The Philippine national team was comprised of five athletes in four sporting events. This included Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta (women’s powerlifting) and Agustin Kitan (men’s powerlifting), Ernie Gawilan (swimming) and Jerrold Pete Mangliwan (wheechair racing).