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Philippines ends 2026 Asian Games with 29 medals, its biggest haul in six decades
Carlos Yulo's two golds, EJ Obiena's record vault and Jeus Yape's taekwondo first led a four-gold, nine-silver, 16-bronze finish in Japan.
The Philippines closed its campaign at the 20th Asian Games in Japan on Sunday, October 4, with four gold, nine silver and 16 bronze medals, a total of 29 and the country's biggest Asian Games haul in six decades, Rappler and GMA News reported.
The country finished 17th in the medal standings, the same place it took in 2023 in Hangzhou, China, according to Rappler. But the total was the most medals the Philippines had won since the 1966 Games in Bangkok, Thailand, where it collected 42, Rappler said. GMA News also cited 1966 in its headline, although the body of its report placed the 42-medal haul at the 1996 Games in Bangkok.
Key figures
Three gold medalists
Gymnast Carlos Yulo led the delegation with two golds, winning the men's floor exercise and vault, the same events in which he won his two Olympic golds, Rappler reported. Rappler said he became the first Filipino gymnast to win an Asian Games medal, completing a collection that already included World Championships, Asian Championships, World Cup and Southeast Asian Games titles. GMA News described the 26-year-old as the anchor of the team.
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena defended his men's pole vault title. GMA News said he had already secured the gold at 5.75 meters before going on to set a new Asian Games record of 5.91 meters. According to Rappler, he became only the fourth back-to-back champion in the event.
The third gold medalist was 22-year-old taekwondo jin Jeus Yape, who won the mixed individual virtual taekwondo event by beating China, GMA News reported. The event made its debut at these Games. Rappler said Yape became the Philippines' first-ever Asian Games gold medalist in taekwondo, after earlier taking bronze in the men's individual poomsae.
The four golds equaled the country's gold tally in 2023 and in 2018 in Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia, according to Rappler.
Source: Rappler
Table
| Thailand | 18 gold medals |
|---|---|
| Malaysia | 9 gold medals |
| Indonesia | 5 gold medals |
| Philippines | 4 gold medals |
Short of the eight-gold target
The Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission had initially set a target of eight golds, Rappler reported. Reaching it would have given the country at least five golds in a single edition for the first time since it won seven in 1962.
A fifth gold never came. The Philippines lost finals in mixed martial arts, 3x3 basketball, sepak takraw, archery, boxing, taekwondo and jiu-jitsu, Rappler said.
On Friday, October 2, boxer Carlo Paalam (men's 55kg) and taekwondo athletes Tachiana Mangin (women's -49kg) and Kurt Barbosa (men's -58kg) all reached their finals but lost their title bouts, according to Rappler. GMA News said Paalam lost to a Japanese opponent and was the only Filipino boxer to reach the podium.
On Saturday, October 3, jiu-jitsu champion Alexandria Enriquez (women's -63kg) was the last hope for a fifth gold, but she lost narrowly by advantage to Thailand's Orapa Senatham, Rappler reported.
The other silver medals went to MMA fighter Jean Claude Saclag (men's traditional -65kg), the Gilas Pilipinas Women 3x3 team, which fell to Japan in the final, the women's sepak takraw team, archer Amaya Cojuangco (women's individual compound) and Juliana Candelaria (women's individual poomsae), according to both outlets.
Timeline
The 20th Asian Games open in Japan. Philstar
Carlo Paalam, Tachiana Mangin and Kurt Barbosa reach their finals; all three end with silver. Rappler
Jiu-jitsu's Alexandria Enriquez loses her final by advantage and takes silver, ending hopes of a fifth gold. Rappler
The Philippines ends its campaign 17th with 29 medals: four gold, nine silver and 16 bronze. Rappler
Most bronzes since 2002
The 16 bronzes were the most for the Philippines since it also won 16 in 2002, Rappler said. Tennis star Alex Eala took bronze in women's singles after a semifinal loss to China's Wang Xiyu, GMA News reported. Eldrew Yulo won bronze in the men's horizontal bar, and athletics bets John Tolentino (110m hurdles) and Victoria Bossong (800m) also reached the podium.
The final standings
China won the overall title for the 12th consecutive edition with 169 golds, 89 silvers and 83 bronzes, Rappler reported. Host Japan was second for the third straight time with 83 golds, 95 silvers and 91 bronzes, and South Korea was third with 39 golds, 43 silvers and 68 bronzes.
Thailand was the top Southeast Asian nation in seventh place with 18 golds, 13 silvers and 21 bronzes. Malaysia (9-7-16) finished 11th and Indonesia (5-11-23) 16th, followed by the Philippines, according to Rappler. Philstar's medal tally, citing the official results site, also listed the Philippines in 17th place for the Games, which ran from September 19 to October 4.
Sources
Written and translated by AI (Claude) using only the reports listed below. Read the full story at the original source.
- GMA News — 2026 Asian Games: Updated Philippines medal tally and list of medalists, as of October 3
- Philstar — Medal tally: 20th Asian Games
- GMA News — Philippines posts biggest Asian Games medal haul since 1966
- The Manila Times — 20th Asian Games Final medal tally
- Rappler — PH nets biggest Asian Games medal haul in 6 decades