PH earns first 2026 Asian Games medal with historic bronze in soft tennis

MEDALISTS. The Philippine women's tennis team of (from left) Hilary Paas, Princess Catindig, Bien Zoleta, Christy Sañosa, Shyryn Salazar deliver in the 2026 Asian Games.

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The quintet of Bien Zoleta, Princess Catindig, Hilary Paas, Shyryn Salazar, and Christy Sañosa make history as the Philippines secures its first-ever podium finish in Asian Games soft tennis

MANILA, Philippines – It did not take long for the Philippines to break the medal ice at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. 

Less than 24 hours after the opening ceremony, the country won its first medal courtesy of the women’s soft tennis team, which bagged a bronze despite its 2-0 loss to defending champion Japan in the semifinals at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center on Sunday, September 20. 

Aside from delivering the Philippines’ maiden medal in this edition of the continental showpiece, the quintet of Bien Zoleta, Princess Catindig, Hilary Paas, Shyryn Salazar, and Christy Sañosa made history as the country secured its first podium finish in Asian Games soft tennis. 

“It’s such an overwhelming feeling because this isn’t just for us, it’s for the Philippines, especially knowing that we’re the first ones to get a medal. We hope this can boost the morale of other national athletes who will be competing in the coming days,” Zoleta told reporters in a mix of Filipino and English. 

“We really worked to win this, especially here in the Asian Games. For us in soft tennis, this is our Olympics. So to win a medal here means so much to us.”

The Philippines started its campaign with a 3-0 win over Mongolia and a 2-1 victory over Thailand.

Although it wrapped up the preliminary round with a 0-3 loss to Chinese Taipei, the Philippines still earned a top-two finish in Group B to advance to the semifinals and assure itself of a medal.

In the semifinals, Japan — which ruled the women’s team event in three of the last four editions, including the last two — displayed its dominance. 

Zoleta and Catindig absorbed a 5-0 loss to Rena Temma and Kiho Miyamae in the opening doubles match before Sañosa fell to Ayaka Iwakura, 4-0, in singles play, paving the way for Japan to return to the finals.

But the defeat did little to wipe the smiles off the Filipinas’ faces as the country finally broke through in a sport that made its Asian Games debut in 1994.

“We are very, very proud and very, very happy to win a medal for the country,” said Zoleta. – Rappler.com