FOR the third straight time, the Philippines finished with four gold medals in the Asian Games as the 20th edition of the quadrennial multisports showcase formally came to a close on Sunday in Aichi-Nagoya.
Team Philippines placed 17th in the medal standings with a 4-9-16 gold-silver-bronze medal total following 15 days of action that China once again dominated.
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Colin Syquia in equestrian was the final competitor of the Philippines on Sunday in the individual jumping, but was unable to add to the total of the country in this Games.
During the closing ceremony, Jeus Yape, the Philippines’ fourth and final gold medalist in the Asiad after capturing the mixed virtual taekwondo, carried the Philippine flag in the closing ceremony at the Mizuho Athletic Park.
The 20th Asian Games saw the Philippines collect 29 medals - more than the output in Hangzhou in 2023 and Jakarta-Palembang in 2018 where it had 4-2-12 (18 medals) and 4-2-15 respectively (21 medals).
The Philippine campaign saw Carlos Yulo stamping his class, winning two gold medals in the floor exercise and vault in men’s artistic gymnastics on consecutive days on September 24 and 25 for his first pair of Asiad mints.
EJ Obiena later captured his second straight pole vault gold with a new Games mark of 5.91 on September 29.
Yape enabled the Philippines to match its gold output over the past two Asian Games by winning the maiden contest in virtual taekwondo.
The four golds were four short of the initial projection of eight made by Philippine sports officials.
China is the overall champion with 169 golds, 89 silvers, and 83 bronzes, followed by host Japan with 83 golds, 95 silvers, and 91 bronzes.
Team Philippines now looks forward to the next Asian Games scheduled in Doha in 2030, which could be moved to 2031 under a proposal to move the showpiece to an odd-numbered year before the Olympics.
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