2026 Asian Games: PH bags first bronze; Gilas Women book QF spot, Alas Women notch wins

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The Philippine Women’s Soft Tennis Team bagged the country’s first medal in the 2026 Asian Games, a bronze, as the continental sporting event officially got underway on Sunday.

While some events had already been held since last week, Saturday’s opening ceremony officially marked the start of the Asian Games.

The women’s soft tennis team, composed of Princess Catindig, Bien Zoleta, Christy Sanosa, Shyryn Salazar, and Hilary Paas, fell to Japan, 2-0, in the semifinals.

However, reaching the semifinals assured the Philippines of a bronze medal.

Gilas Pilipinas Women also secured a quarterfinal berth after cruising past Hong Kong, 90-73, in the women’s basketball tournament.

Aside from soft tennis, MMA fighters Jean Claude Saclag and Carlos Alvarez are also assured of medals in the Asiad.

Saclag defeated Saudi Arabia’s Saud Fawaz Almolhem, 3-0, in the men’s traditional 65kg event to advance to the semifinals.

Alvarez, meanwhile, defeated Indonesia’s Ananda Wahyu Setyo Prabowo, 3-0, to also advance to the semifinals.

Meanwhile, the Alas Pilipinas Women’s indoor and beach volleyball teams won their respective matches.

The women’s beach volleyball duo of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons cruised to a 21-6, 21-6 victory over Bangladesh.

Later in the night, the women’s indoor volleyball team notched its first win, 25-8, 25-2, 25-9, against Qatar to continue its campaign in the classification round.

In other events, wushu’s Agatha Wong missed the podium, while Kayla Sanchez and the rest of the women’s 4x100m relay team were deemed disqualified after the race. Meanwhile, Eumir Marcial was announced to be skipping the Asiad.

More sports will begin their respective campaigns on Monday, including 3x3 basketball, where the Philippines will face Mongolia and Sri Lanka, and gymnastics, where brothers Carlos and Eldrew Yulo will compete in the qualifiers.

The Filipinas women’s football team will also face China on Monday, while the Alas Pilipinas Women’s teams will remain in action, with the indoor squad competing in the classification round and the beach volleyball pair continuing in the elimination round.