Philippines posts biggest Asian Games medal haul since 1966 - GMA Network
The Philippines has struck four gold, nine silver, and 16 bronze medals throughout the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, and in the process, put together its biggest haul in six decades.
This medal haul nearly matched the Philippine delegation's total medal count in the 1996 Asian Games in Bangkok, where Filipino athletes brought home 42 medals—two golds, courtesy of discus throw star Josephine de la Viña and boxer Rodolfo Arpon, alongside 15 silver and 25 bronze medals.
Gymnast Carlos Yulo emerged as the anchor of the Philippine team.
Already an Olympic champion, the 26-year-old Yulo added Asian Games gold to his glowing résumé in emphatic fashion after ruling both the floor exercise and vault to spearhead the haul.
Then came EJ Obiena's turn to shine. The Filipino pole vaulter already had the gold at 5.75 meters but still had the confidence to set a new Asian Games record at 5.91 meters and defend his title as Asia's best.
As the Philippines entered the final stretch of its Asian Games campaign, a 22-year-old taekwondo jin delivered another golden moment for the country.
Jeus Yape won gold in the inaugural virtual taekwondo competition by beating China in the mixed individual event to secure his second medal of the tournament after already claiming a bronze in the individual poomsae.
The Philippines also found plenty of silver lining in Aichi-Nagoya.
Although it came after a heartbreaking defeat, Carlo Paalam still walked away with silver after bowing to his Japanese foe in the men's 55kg final, emerging as the lone Filipino boxer to reach the podium.
Gilas Pilipinas Women 3x3 likewise fell to Japan in the finals to take home the silver medal, becoming the lone Philippine basketball team to win a medal in the event.
Aside from Yape's feats, taekwondo delivered three more silvers courtesy of Olympian Kurt Barbosa in men's -58kg, Tachiana Mangin in women's -49kg, and Juliana Candelaria in individual poomsae.
Archer Amaya Cojuangco also clinched a silver in the women's individual compound event, while jiu-jitsu ace Alex Enriquez, MMA's Jean Claude Saclag, and the Philippine women's sepak takraw team rounded out the silver medalist list.
While gold eluded some Filipino athletes, they still found a way onto the podium with bronze.
Among them was tennis star Alex Eala, who eyed the gold but had to settle for bronze after a shock semifinal loss to China's Wang Xiyu in the women's singles.
Also bagging bronze were two rising athletes, gymnast Eldrew Yulo and weightlifter Ian Albert Delos Santos, who finished third in the men's horizontal bar and men's 70kg, respectively.
Athletics bets John Tolentino (110m hurdles) and Victoria Bossong (800m), beach volleyball stars Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara, Sibol's Honor of Kings and Pokémon UNITE squads, jiu-jitsu's Kaila Napolis, karate's Marie Adriano and women's team kata, MMA's Carlos Alvarez, sepak takraw's men's regu team, soft tennis' women's team, and surfing's Jayuard Alciso completed the list of bronze winners.
