Angel Mae Otom during Heat 2 of the women’s 50m backstroke S5 at the Paralympics 2024 in Paris.–PSC PHOTO

Angel Otom obviously wasn’t pleased after finishing out of the podium in the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

The nation’s fast-rising para swimmer made a promise, though, vowing that she would do better on the world stage moving forward.

The sports science major from the University of the Philippines Diliman-College of Human Kinetics earned a shot at redemption after securing a spot in the 2025 Para Swimming World Championships in Singapore, scheduled in September.

“I’m embracing the challenge because the best para swimmers will be there. I have almost five months to prepare and improve my times,’’ said Otom after capturing one gold and a bronze at the recent 2025 Para Swimming World Series in Fuji-Shizuoka, Japan.

The 21-year-old from Olongapo City ruled the women’s 50m backstroke S5 event in 46.84 seconds and checked in third in the 50m butterfly S5 in 50 seconds flat, which meant a ticket to the para swimming worlds.

Paris finalist

Otom has a congenital upper limb deficiency with no left arm and an underdeveloped right arm, but these challenges have not affected her resolve one bit. She has won a total of seven gold medals in the past two versions of the Asean Para Games in 2022 Indonesia and 2023 Cambodia.

She figured in the finals of both events in the Paralympics in the French capital last year, finishing fifth in the butterfly and sixth in backstroke.

“Those (setbacks) only motivated me to work harder. It inspires me to be better each day,’’ said Otom.

Meanwhile, Team Philippines gathered six gold medals in the just-concluded 2025 Chinese Taipei Age Group Finswimming Competition held in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.

Jiskah Cachero scooped four gold medals in the women’s 100m surface and 50m apnea events and helped the national relay squad top the 4x50m surface relay and 4x100m bifin relay.

Allen Manlises, Curt Cosico and Jhan Blaine Repil joined Cachero in the 4x50m race while Manlises, Repil, Cachero and Kenneth Santos swam in the 4x100m. INQ