King James Reyes crowns Asian Para Games campaign with bronze medal

MANILA — King James Reyes delivered the Philippines’ first podium finish in athletics in the 2026 Asian Para Games, Friday at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya.

Reyes, a native of Loreto in Agusan del Sur, claimed bronze in the men’s 1,500-meter T46 after clocking a personal best of four minutes and 13.81 seconds.

Sri Lanka’s Wahumpurage Puwakpitikande seized the gold in 4:03.25, while India’s Parmod took silver in 4:09.65.

Reyes, who studies Sports Science at Adamson University, was pleased to have met his own expectations during the meet.

“Alam ko na po sa sarili ko na kayang-kaya ko pong mag-podium. Pinaghandaan po kasi namin, kasama ‘yung mga sakripisyo namin,” said the 24-year-old, who lost an arm after falling from a macopa tree at age five.

His breakthrough came a day after the heartbreaking reversal that cost Cyril Cloyd Ongcoy bronze in the men’s 1,500-meter T12/T13. A jury reinstated Uzbekistan’s initially disqualified Fakhriddin Khamraev as the gold medalist, relegating Ongcoy to fourth. 

Heading into the final day, the Philippine delegation, backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, stood 17th overall with two golds, two silvers and two bronzes. 

Evaristo Carbonel and Edwin Enguito Jr. also gave their all but fell short in their medal bids. 

Carbonel posted a personal best of 27.18 meters in the men’s discus throw F11 but finished fifth in the five-man field, while Enguito placed fourth in the men’s high jump T63 with a clearance of 1.63 meters. 

In wheelchair fencing at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center, Wilfredo Bugayong II and Violeta Sapalit reached the knockout rounds but bowed out of medal contention in saber. 

Bugayong advanced to the men’s Category A round of 16 after defeating Hong Kong’s Lee Sheung Ho, 15-5, in the preceding round. He then fell to China’s Cheng Yang, 6-15. 

Sapalit likewise exited in the round of 16, losing to South Korea’s Kim Yeji, 6-15.