Amaya Amparo Cojuangco with PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio (POC Media)

NAGOYA — Amaya Amparo Cojuangco fought her way from the back of the field to a historic silver medal, delivering the Philippines’ first Asian Games medal in women’s individual compound archery in 12 years at the 20th Asian Games here on Thursday.

Cojuangco, who admitted she “super wanted the gold,” settled for the silver after falling to Indonesia’s Nurisa Dian Ashrifah in the final match at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square.

The 40-year-old Filipina came to within two points of the gold before bowing to Indonesia’s Nurisa Dian Ashrifah, 139-137, in a tightly contested finale.

“Very lucky. I thank the Lord,” Cojuangco said. “I think it’s like destiny because I really didn’t qualify well. Like I was around 28, so I came from behind and every match was really a fight.”

Cojuangco’s silver was the Philippines’ first appearance in an Asian Games archery final, giving the country its first Asiad archery medal since Paul Marton Dela Cruz bagged the bronze in 2014.

It was a remarkable turnaround for Cojuangco, who entered the individual competition ranked only around 28th after the qualification round. But she steadily battled her way through the knockout stages and into the championship match.

“I wanted the gold. I super wanted the gold. I’m sad. I’m sad that I lost, but also grateful that I still have a silver medal,” she said.

The key, she said, was getting back to the basics.

“Focus and hunker down and concentrate on my form,” said, Cojuangco, who battled through difficult conditions in the final, with strong winds making it challenging for both archers to consistently find the 10-ring.

The match was level at 28-all after the opening end before Ashrifah moved ahead by a single point in the second. The two remained locked in a tight battle through the succeeding ends, but the Indonesian archer pulled away in the decisive fifth end, scoring 29 points to Cojuangco’s 27.

Cojuangco said she felt she shot well in the final despite the result.

“I don’t know. I felt good. The shots were good, but I didn’t qualify,” she said. “Sometimes, that’s it. I could only do my best.”

Her historic campaign came after a difficult buildup, including a shoulder injury suffered several months before the games.

“I had a shoulder injury a few months ago,” Cojuangco said. “Shooting-wise, it was also erratic.”

Cojuangco had earlier produced two clutch victories on her way to the final.

She edged South Korea’s Park Jungyoon, 142-141, in the semifinals after overcoming an early deficit, then advanced to the title match after defeating Iran’s Bita Asheghzadeh Oskouei, 146-135, in the quarterfinals.

Her semifinal victory was particularly significant as Park had entered the match as one of the leading Korean contenders.

Cojuangco held her nerve to preserve a one-point advantage and secure a place in the gold-medal showdown.

She previously won medals at the Southeast Asian Games and has represented the Philippines at multiple Asian Games, including the 2014 and 2018 editions. — Riera U. Mallari