By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Medals continued to pour in for Team Philippines at the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games, led by para swimmer Mary Hannah Diesto, who finally struck gold after a series of near misses, followed by multi-gold winner Ric Daniel Pasadilla and strong performances from Filipino para athletes across swimming, athletics and badminton at various venues in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The 14-year-old Diesto, a standout from Negros Occidental’s Talisay City, captured the gold medal in the girls’ 12 to 15 100-meter butterfly S14 with a time of 1:40.80, capping a breakthrough campaign after settling for silver medals in the 200-m freestyle, 400-m freestyle and 100-m backstroke earlier in the meet.

Her mother, B. Marie Amparo Diesto, who spoke on her behalf, expressed heartfelt gratitude to those who supported her daughter’s journey.

“We only prayed for one medal, any color, just so we could at least bring home one. We’re grateful that she was able to win four medals, including one gold,” said a teary-eyed Amparo of Hannah, who was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay.

Meanwhile, Pasadilla continued to shine at the Hamdan Sports Complex, with the 13-year-old swimmer from Pototan National Comprehensive High School in Iloilo securing his third gold medal after ruling the boys’ 100-m butterfly S10 in one minute and 12.07 seconds, making him the most bemedaled Filipino para athlete so far in the competition.

Pasadilla also added a bronze medal in the 100-m backstroke SB9, clocking 1:22.47, behind gold medalist Dias Mimanov of Uzbekistan (1:22) and silver winner Kohei Hosaka of Japan (1:22.32).

His medal haul includes earlier golds in the 200-m individual medley S14 and 100-m backstroke S10, along with a silver in the 100-m freestyle S10./ASC, WDJ