MANILA — The Philippine women’s soft tennis team broke through for the country’s first medal of the 2026 Asian Games, securing a historic bronze after reaching the semifinals for the first time on Sunday in Nagoya, Japan.
The Filipinas’ breakthrough podium finish put the Philippines on the medal board despite a 2-0 semifinal loss to powerhouse host Japan.
Princess Catindig and Noelle Mañalac opened the semifinal campaign against Japan’s Rena Temma and Kiho Miyamae but could not contain the home tandem, bowing 4-0, 4-1, 4-2, 4-0 and 4-1.
Christy Sanosa then attempted to keep the Philippines alive against Ayaka Iwakura in the second match but fell 4-0, 4-1, 4-2 and 4-2, allowing Japan to complete the sweep and advance to the gold-medal match.
Shyryn Salazar and Hilary Paas completed the Philippine squad that delivered the country’s historic soft tennis medal.
The Filipinas had built momentum early in the competition, sweeping Mongolia, 3-0, before overcoming Thailand, 2-1, in the group stage. They later absorbed a 3-0 defeat to Chinese Taipei in the preliminary round.
The bronze medal nevertheless marked a breakthrough for Philippine women’s soft tennis and gave the national delegation its first podium finish of the Games.
Elsewhere, Prince Agustin narrowly missed adding another medal for the Philippines after suffering a 2-0 (12-7, 12-7) loss to Vietnam’s Friday Saw in the bronze-medal match of the teqball men’s singles event.
Karate athlete Rebecca Cyril Torres saw her campaign end in the quarterfinals following a 4-1 defeat to Hui-hsuan Chien in the women’s individual kata event.
In triathlon, Fernando Jose Casares and Inaki Emil Lorbes placed 10th and 18th, respectively, in the men’s individual event, while Raven Faith Alcoseba and Kim Mangrobang finished ninth and 20th, respectively, in the women’s competition.
Over at wushu, Sandrex Gainsan and Mark Anthony Polo wound up 10th and 18th, respectively, in the men’s changquan final.
In beach volleyball, Alas Pilipinas women’s tandem Cherry Rondina and Negrense Bernadeth Pons dominated Bangladesh, 21-6, 21-6./PN
