Para javelin thrower Cendy Asusano came close to a podium finish after settling for fourth place in the women’s javelin throw-F54 event at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games at Stade de France over the weekend.

Competing in her maiden stint in Paralympics, Asusano, 34, registered her personal best of 15.05 meters but it was not enough to carry her into the medal spot of the six-woman final.

Uzbekistan’s Nurkhon Kurbanova impressed with her world record throw of 21.12m to clinch the gold medal while Nigeria’s Flora Ugwunwa (19.26m) and Iran’s Elham SalehI (16.24m) bagged the silver and bronze, respectively.

Asusano's performance marked the last hurrah for the Filipino para athletes in the French capital, with para swimmers Angel Otom and Ernie Gawilan, para racer Jerrold Mangliwan, para archer Agustina Bantiloc, and para taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin also joining the quadrennial meet.

For the closing rites, Asusano and Ganapin will serve as the flag-bearers for the Philippines.

Late table tennis great Filipina Josephine Medina, who passed away in 2021, remained as the last medal winner after she delivered bronze in Rio 2016.

In the medal tally, China is still on top with 220 total medals built on 94 golds, 76 silvers and 50 bronzes. Great Britain is second with 49-44-31, followed by the USA (36-42-27), the Netherlands (27-17-12), and Brazil (25-26-38).