Team Philippines has made the country proud by securing its best Asian Games ranking in nearly 30 years. Filipino athletes bagged four gold, two silver, and 12 bronze medals, landing the Philippines at the 17th spot among 38 competing nations.
Wrapping up the country’s participation in the 15-day continental tilt on October 8, 2023, in Hangzhou, China, the Philippines’ record was the best since the country finished in 14th rank at the 1994 Asian Games in Japan. The four-gold haul also matched the 2018 Indonesia Games placement.
Golden Triumph
Ernest John Obiena, Asia’s top track and field athlete, snagged the first gold medal in pole vaulting, breaking the Asian Games record twice in one day.
Read more about EJ Obiena’s golden moment here.
https://twitter.com/GoodNewsPinas_/status/1708719616846143898
Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez added two more golds in Jiu-jitsu, showcasing Filipina prowess in martial arts.
Discover how Ochoa and Ramirez clinched their golds here.
https://twitter.com/GoodNewsPinas_/status/1710253282659287472
The Gilas Pilipinas Men’s Basketball Team wrapped up the Games with a fourth gold, harking back to the country’s historical dominance in Asian basketball.
Catch the Gilas Pilipinas highlight reel here.
https://twitter.com/GoodNewsPinas_/status/1710632027551408240
Silver Streaks
Arnel Mandal earned the first silver for the Philippines in Wushu, competing in the Men’s 56kg division final.
Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial clinched the second silver in the Men’s Boxing 80kg division, also securing his spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Bronze Collection
Filipinos harvested 12 podium finishes with bronze medals in Taekwondo, Wushu, Tennis, Cycling, Weightlifting, Sepak Takraw, Karate, and Jiu-Jitsu.
- The Philippines broke into the Asian Games medal tally board courtesy of a bronze from Patrick King Perez in Taekwondo (Men’s Individual Poomsae).
- Wushu won 3 bronze medals in succession courtesy of Jones Llabres Inso (Men’s Taijiquan and Taijijian), Gideon Fred Padua (Men’s Sanda 60kg), and Clemente Tabugara Jr. (Men’s Sanda 65kg).
- Teen tennis sensation Alexandra Eala marked her debut on the continental games with two tennis bronzes ending the country’s medal drought in the sport since 2006. Eala won her first medal in Women’s Singles Tennis and another in Mixed Doubles Tennis with partner Francis Casey Alcantara.
- Cyclist Patrick Bren Coo supplied another medal in Cycling BMX racing.
- Weightlifter Elreen Ann Ando won her medal in Women’s 64kg.
- The Sepak Takraw team of Ronsited Gabayeron, Mark Joseph Gonzales, Jason Huerte, Rheyjey Ortouste, Jom Lerry Rafael, and Vince Torno grabbed one bronze in Men’s Quadrant and another bronze in Men’s Regu (without Torno).
- Karateka Sakura Alforte nabbed a bronze in Women’s Individual Kata).
- Jiu-jitsu again gave another medal courtesy of Jenna Kaila Napolis in Women’s 52kg.
The Philippines finished in 17th place among 38 NOCs at the #AsianGames2023, its best ranking since its overall 14th-place finish in 1994 pic.twitter.com/MbUMoUxvPR
— GoodNewsPilipinas.com (@GoodNewsPinas_) October 9, 2023
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