By Gabriela Baron
Mary Francine Padios clinched the first gold medal for the Philippines in the 31st edition of the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Padios won against Puspa Arum Sari of Indonesia in Pencak Silat Women’s Seni (Artistic) Tunggal Singles. Padios bagged the silver in the 2019 edition of the biennial meet.
The Filipina finished with 9.960 points against Sari who had a score of 9.945.
SPORTS UPDATE: Pencak Silat athlete Mary Francine Padios gave the Philippines its first gold medal in the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam on Wednesday, May 11.
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— PTVph (@PTVph) May 11, 2022
In an exclusive interview with PTV Digital, Pencak Silat Federation President Princess Jacel Kiram said Padios dedicated her win to her father who is currently in a coma following a car accident last December.
“March ata ‘yun o April bago matapos yung training, sabi ng kapatid niya pwede nang tumanggap ng bisita kasi parang nawawalan na sila ng pag-asa, sabi nung [younger] sister niya, hinihintay mo na lang ba si Manang [Francine]? So tinawagan ako ng mommy, nakiusap, pinull out namin sa training for 10 days,” Kiram said in an exclusive interview with PTV Digital.
“[Sinabi namin] stay for as long as you want with your dad. Nagulat ako the next day bumalik na, tapos sabi niya hindi naman daw sya doktor, wala naman daw syang magagawa pag nandun sya, sayang yung sinimulan niya sa training. [Sabi ko], mag-go-gold itong batang to, nag-gold nga,” she added. – bny
