JAKARTA – The Philippines captured its first silver medal courtesy of a brave Fil-Japanese judoka, just two days before the 18th Asian Games comes to a close.
Kiyomi Watanabe finished runner-up in the women’s -63kg division of the judo competitions after losing to Nami Nabekura of Japan in the final.
It was still an impressive finish for Watanabe, who went up against the third-ranked judoka in the world in their weight class.
The silver medal lifted the country to 17th place with 4-1-13 gold-silver-bronze medal output at the end of Thursday's action.
On Friday, the Philippines will have three boxers vying for a finals berth in light flyweight Carlo Paalam, flyweight Rogen Ladon, and middleweight Eumir Marcial.
The men’s basketball team, led by NBA player Jordan Clarkson, will also cap its campaign in the Asiad against Syria in the battle for fifth place.
Elsewhere, Youth Olympic Games campaigner Jann Mari Nayre won in his first round match against Yemen only to be eliminated in the next round against Wong Chu Ting of Hong Kong.
Jason Balabal lost in his first bout in kurash.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph