MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines recorded its biggest Asian Games medal haul in six decades after winning four gold, nine silver and 16 bronze medals at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
The 29-medal haul came close to the country’s overall medal tally at the 1996 Asian Games in Bangkok, where the Philippine delegation won 42 medals — two gold, 15 silver and 25 bronze.
Gymnast Carlos Yulo emerged as one of the country’s leading medalists in Aichi-Nagoya, adding two Asian Games gold medals to his résumé after ruling the men’s floor exercise and vault events.
Yulo, already an Olympic champion, further strengthened his credentials as one of the Philippines’ top athletes with his performances in the competition.
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena also delivered a gold-medal performance, clearing 5.75 meters. He entered the competition as the defending Asian Games champion and remained confident of setting a new Asian Games record.
The Philippines also secured another gold medal through taekwondo jin Jeus Yape, who topped the inaugural virtual taekwondo mixed individual event after defeating China.
Yape collected his second medal of the Games after earlier winning bronze in individual poomsae.
Carlo Paalam added a silver medal after finishing runner-up to his Japanese opponent in the men’s 55-kilogram final. He emerged as the only Filipino boxer to reach the podium.
Gilas Pilipinas Women’s 3×3 team also settled for silver after losing to Japan in the final, becoming the lone Philippine basketball team to win a medal in the competition.
Taekwondo contributed three more silver medals through Olympian Kurt Barbosa in the men’s -58kg division, Tachiana Mangin in the women’s -49kg event and Juliana Candelaria in individual poomsae.
