Eight-gold target set as Philippines eyes Asian Games splash

EIGHT. Athletes, coaches, and officials during Team Philippines' send-off for the 2026 Asian Games and 2026 Asian Para Games.

Philippine Olympic Committee's Facebook page

Bannered by star athletes Carlos Yulo, Alex Eala, EJ Obiena, and Annie Ramirez, Team Philippines seeks to breach the four-gold mark in an Asian Games edition for the first time since 1962

AT A GLANCE

• Team Philippines aims to win at least eight gold medals at the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, doubling their previous best of four golds.
• To motivate the athletes, additional allowances and bonuses have been announced for exceeding past medal tallies, with the Asian Games set to begin on September 19.

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MANILA, Philippines – Team Philippines has not won more than four gold medals in the Asian Games for over six decades, but the ambitious goal for the upcoming edition in Nagoya, Japan, is to win twice as many.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino on Thursday, September 10, said the target for the quadrennial showpiece is at least eight gold medals, believing the 464-strong delegation can surpass the four-gold hauls each in 2018 in Indonesia and in 2023 in China. 

“I’m not going to put any pressure on the athletes for this Asian Games. There will be no pressure, but give it everything you’ve got. Give it your absolute best,” said Tolentino in Filipino during the athletes’ send-off at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. 

The Philippines last breached the four-gold mark in the 1962 edition, where it clinched seven gold medals to finish fifth overall.

All but one of the Philippines’ four gold medalists in 2023 are still around, with Gilas Pilipinas, pole vault stalwart EJ Obiena, and jiu-jitsu standout Annie Ramirez aiming to defend their thrones.

Jiu-jitsu veteran Meggie Ochoa, another champion in 2023, has already retired from the national team and transitioned into coaching.

Aside from the three returning titleholders, gold medals are expected from gymnastics ace Carlos Yulo and tennis star Alex Eala.

Yulo, the Philippines’ first and only Olympic double gold medalist, bagged the floor exercise crown in the Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships in June, while Eala has posted promising results, winning her first-ever WTA Tour title at the Washington Open in August, in between a fourth-round appearance in Wimbledon and a third-round stint in the US Open. 

Other gold-medal prospects, according to Tolentino, come from boxing, taekwondo, wushu, mixed martial arts, athletics, esports, and skateboarding. 

“There are no replays here. Give it everything you’ve got,” said Tolentino. 

In a bid to motivate the delegates, Philippine Sports Commissioner chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio announced an additional P6,000 allowance for each participating athlete and coach. 

Gregorio also promised bonuses if the country exceeds the four-gold Asian Games tally and 10-gold Asian Para Games yield in 2023. 

“Let us achieve more, and when you come back, you will have a very good Christmas, I assure you,” said Gregorio. “Let us make the Filipino nation smile.”

The Asian Games will officially open on September 19 and run until October 4, but the men’s basketball tournament already started, with Gilas Pilipinas kicking off its title defense against Bahrain on Friday, September 11. – Rappler.com