WOMEN athletes continue to shine for Team Philippines as Margielyn Arda Didal of Cebu City struck for a gold medal in the 18th Asian Games skateboarding women's street event at the Jakabaring Sports City (JSC) Skate Park in Palembang, South Sumatra in Indonesia Wednesday, August 29, 2018.
The 19-year-old amassed a total of 30.4 points to beat Japan's Kaya Isa and Indonesia's Bunga Nyimas who annexed the silver and bronze, respectively.
Isa garnered 25 points while Nyimas registered 19.8 points.
Didal, in a Ripples Daily report, said, "I am very happy I did my best."
The Cebuana, who finished eighth in the SLS World Tour in London, Great Britain and 12th in XGames in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA this year, will be receiving a total cash incentive of P6 million from government and private patrons just like the rest of the country's gold medalists Hidilyn Diaz (women' weightlifting), Yuka Susa (women's individual golf) and Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Go (women's team golf).
The cash bonus would be a great help for Didal's family whose mother, a kwek-kwek vendor, and her father, a carpenter, both try to make ends meet.
Didal, according to the report, plans to give the money to her mother to start a business.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Charles Raymond A. Maxey, via Facebook live, Wednesday, "We credit the athletes. Lumalaban sila ng buong puso para sa bayan."
He lauded Didal for giving honor to the country with her golden feat.
"After Didal's fourth gold, sana madagdagan pa. Sa pamumuno ni Chairman Butch tuwang-tuwa kami sa pangyayari at ang gobyerno ay patuloy na susuporta sa ating mga atleta," the Dabawenyo commissioner said.
He also cited the efforts of the Filipino boxers who keep fighting.
Carlo Paalam and Rogen Ladon were already assured of bronze medals after beating their respective quarterfinals opponents.
Paalam defeated Temirtas Zhussupov of Kazahkstan, 4-1, in men's light flyweight while Ladon won via split 3-2 decision over Azat Mahmetov of Kazakhstan in men's flyweight.
Eumir Felix Marcial wa set to clash against South Korea's Jinjea Kim in men's middleweight quarterfinals Wednesday evening.