THE Philippines entered the medal tally on the official first day of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan on Sunday.
The women’s soft tennis team of Bien Zoleta, Princess Catindig, Christy Sanosa, Hilary Paas, and Shyryn Salazar lost in their semifinal match against Japan, 2-0, on Sunday morning at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center.
READ: Women's soft tennis bronze medal breaks the ice at Asian Games
But the pair of wins they captured in the group stage prior to Saturday’s opening ceremony against Mongolia and Thailand that catapulted them to the semifinals was enough for a podium finish.
It was the Philippines’ first medal in soft tennis since its inception to the Asiad calendar in 1994.
“Sobrang saya kasi ito nga very historic win for us sa Philippine soft tennis. First time ito na maka-podium finish since 1994. Sobrang happy na naka medal kami para sa bayan,” said Zoleta in an interview with a pool reporter. "Ito ang pinaka-pangarap namin sa soft tennis. Ito ang Olympics namin so magka-medalya dito is na paka laking bagay para sa amin.”
After soft tennis’ bronze medal, the focus shifts at the start of Carlos Yulo’s quest for his first Asian Games gold medal as he competes in the men’s all-around at the Nagoya City General Gymnasium Rainbow Hall starting on Monday, 10 a.m. local time (9 a.m. Manila time)
Aside from a medal in the all-around against Japanese stars Oka Shinnosuke and Daiki Hashimoto, Yulo will look to qualify in the floor exercise and vault where he is the reigning Olympic champion.
With the soft tennis’ medal, the Philippines is in 21st place in the medal tally alongside Iran, Brunei Darussalam, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, and Tajikistan.
Carlos Alvarez and Jean Claude Saclag barged into the semifinals of their respective events in mixed martial arts, assuring them of at least a bronze in the maiden edition of the sport in the Asiad.
READ: Carlos Alvarez, Jean Claude Saclag assured of Asiad MMA bronze
Other Philippine participation saw Gilas Pilipinas Women defeating Hong Kong, 90-73, to clinch a quarterfinal berth after a 2-0 win-loss record.
Six-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Agatha Wong placed 10th in the taijiquan and taijijian event in wushu.
Teqball nearly got a bronze medal after 14-year-old Prince Agustin lost to 36-year-old Friday Saw of Myanmar, 2-0.
China has collected 11 gold medals after Day 1 followed by host Japan with six, and South Korea with four.
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