THE Philippines has won its fourth gold medal in the 20th Asian Games on Friday in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, matching the previous mark three years ago.
Jeus Yape won the inaugural mixed virtual taekwondo competition in the penultimate day of competitions in the quadrennial multisport event, ensuring that the Philippines will at least equal the same number of gold medals as in the Hangzhou, China edition in 2023.
Yape joins the Philippines’ winners circle of this Games in two-gold winner Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
READ: Jeus Yape brings in Philippines' fourth Asiad gold medal
Philippine sports officials are now banking on the likes of jiu-jitsu and taekwondo to meet their new target – from winning eight gold medals in this Asiad to surpassing the four it won in Hangzhou – in what could be the last day of competitions for the Philippines on Saturday.
Equestrian is the only remaining event to be held on Sunday.
Multiple medals were won by Team Philippines in Day 13, with taekwondo also adding two silvers after Tachiana Mangin and Kurt Barbosa lost in the final in the women’s -49kg and men’s -55kg respectively.
Kaila Napolis was also victorious in her last repechage match in women’s jiu-jitsu 52kg division to snare a bronze medal.
The women’s beach volleyball team also made history with its first Asiad medal as Khylem Harl Progella and Sofiah Shanine Pagara captured the bronze.
On Saturday, Asian Beach Games gold medalist Alex Enriquez leads the jiu-jitsu delegation as she is scheduled to compete in the women’s 63kg, while Baby Jessica Canabal is the final entrant of the Philippines in taekwondo women’s -57kg.
The PH Blu Girls battle for a bronze medal against Chinese Taipei in women’s softball.
Danna Abad and Joshea Malazarte also go for a bronze medal in the padel women’s pairs against an Indonesian tandem.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
