Marie June Adriano gives PH another karate bronze in Asian Games

FEARSOME. The Philippines' Marie June Adriano (left) in action during her bronze-medal bout against Taiwan's Chung Ya-chi in the karate women's kumite -50kg class in the 2026 Asian Games.

Andrew Couldridge/REUTERS

Filipina karateka Marie June Adriano triumphs in the kumite category a day after teammates Rebecca Cyril Torres, Ysabielle Arrogante, and Samantha Emmanuelle Veguillas also won bronze in the kata event

MANILA, Philippines – Another Filipina karateka delivered a medal in the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, as Marie June Adriano bagged the bronze in the women’s kumite -50kg division on Wednesday, September 23.

Adriano claimed a convincing 10-3 win over Chinese Taipei’s Chung Ya-chi in the bronze-medal bout at the Toyohashi Gymnasium to give the Philippines its fifth medal in the 20th edition of the continental showpiece. 

Her victory came a day after karate teammates Rebecca Cyril Torres, Ysabielle Arrogante, and Samantha Emmanuelle Veguillas also won bronze in the women’s kata event.

“I still cannot believe it,” Adriano told Cignal in Filipino. “They told me to just enjoy because this is my first time — just feel the crowd, feel the moment, let go of the negative and feel the positive energy.” 

Adriano, 22, fell short of a spot in the gold-medal match after a narrow 5-4 loss to Hong Kong’s Tsang Yee Ting in the semifinals.

But Adriano refused to go home without a medal as she dominated Chung in the battle for bronze.

In the earlier rounds, Adriano opened her campaign with a 4-3 victory over Cambodia’s Srey Phea Chonn then scored a 4-0 triumph over South Korea’s Yang Yewon in the quarterfinals.

The karate team missed out on another medal on Tuesday, September 22, as Alwyn Batican lost his bronze-medal bout to Kazakhstan’s Nurkanat Azhikanov, 10-1. – Rappler.com