Filipino Soft Tennis Women Secure Historic Asian Games Bronze

Sports | Tennis Posted on 2026-09-20 10:54:18

MANILA – The Philippine women's soft tennis team secured the country's first medal at the 20th Asian Games after reaching the semifinals in Nagoya, Japan on Sunday.

The Filipinas fell 0-2 to defending champion Japan at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center, earning a bronze medal after their semifinal defeat.

Bien Zoleta and Princess Catindig lost to Japan's Rena Temma and Kiho Miyamae, while Christy Sanosa was beaten by Ayaka Iwakura. Both matches ended in five-set sweeps.

The medal marks the Philippines' first podium finish in soft tennis at the Asian Games since 1994.

“We are overjoyed because this is truly a historic win for us in Philippine soft tennis. It is our first podium finish since 1994. We are so happy to have won a medal for the country,” Zoleta said in a news release.

“This is what we've dreamed of in soft tennis. This is our Olympics, so winning a medal here means a great deal to us,” she added.

Soft Tennis Pilipinas also celebrated the achievement, describing the medal as the result of years of sacrifice, discipline and perseverance.

“Behind this medal are countless sacrifices, discipline, heartbreaks, unwavering support, and years of believing in what seemed like a distant dream,” the association said in a Facebook post.

Zoleta is also the third Filipino to win a bronze medal at the World Soft Tennis Championships, following Josephine Paguyo in 1995 in Japan and Joseph Arcilla in 2011 in South Korea.

“This isn't just for us. It is for the Philippines. Hopefully, this provides a significant morale boost for the national athletes competing today, tomorrow, and in the coming days, because they know how hard we worked for this victory, particularly at the Asian Games,” Zoleta said.

Zoleta will next team up with Samuel Nuguit in the mixed doubles, while Sanosa will pair with Sherwin Nuguit on Monday. The women's and men's singles competitions are scheduled to begin Tuesday.

Two Filipinos assured of bronze

Meanwhile, Jean Claude Saclag and Carlos Alvarez are assured of bronze medals after advancing to the semifinals of the men's traditional mixed martial arts competition.

Saclag defeated Saudi Arabia's Saud Fawaz Almolhem in the men's -65-kilogram quarterfinals, while Alvarez beat Indonesia's Ananda Prabowo in the -77kg division.

Both Filipino fighters will compete in the semifinals on Monday.

Gilas advances

In women's basketball, Gilas Pilipinas defeated Hong Kong, 90-73, to advance to the quarterfinals.

The Philippines remained unbeaten at 2-0 in Group B after opening its campaign with an 86-58 victory over Kazakhstan.