Para swimmer Angel Otom reaches final anew in last Paralympic event
MANILA, Philippines – Filipina para swimmer Angel Otom gave herself another medal shot in her last event in the Paris Paralympics.
Otom reached the final of the women’s 50m butterfly S5 after placing fifth in the heats at the Paris La Defense Arena on Friday, September 6.
The reigning ASEAN Para Games champion in the event, Otom clocked 46.85 seconds to make the eight-woman cutoff for the medal race.
“I studied what I need to do in this swim. I’ll try to improve in the final,” Otom, who was born with no left arm and an underdeveloped right arm, said in Filipino.
Defending Paralympic champion Lu Dong of China looked ready to defend her crown after topping the heats with a time of 40.50 seconds followed by compatriot He Shenggao (43.11) and Turkey’s Sevilay Ozturk (44.70).
China’s Cheng Jiao (46.01), Italy’s Giulia Ghiretti (47.81), Brazil’s Esthefany Rodrigues (49.32), and Turkey’s Sumeyye Boyaci (51.87) also advanced.
The 21-year-old Otom, who hails from Olongapo City, hopes to do better after finishing sixth overall in the women’s 50m backstroke S5.
The final is set at 11:58 pm on Friday. – Rappler.com