Team Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games: What you need to know - GMA Network

Team Philippines has arrived in Japan for the 2026 Asian Games, which will be held in Aichi-Nagoya.

The Games officially open on Saturday, September 19, with the Philippines sending a delegation of more than 400 athletes as it seeks to surpass the four gold medals it won in the 2023 Asian Games.

More than 400 athletes are competing for the Philippines in the Asian Games, led by sports stars Alex Eala (tennis), EJ Obiena (pole vault), and Carlos Yulo (gymnastics).

READ MORE | 2026 Asian Games: Who are the Philippine athletes competing in Aichi-Nagoya?

The Philippines is also expected to participate in the opening ceremony, with Olympic boxing medalist Aira Villegas and weightlifting prodigy Albert Ian Delos Santos carrying the Philippine flag during the Parade of Nations.

The delegation will also wear a Francis Libiran-designed barong called “Malaya.”

Gilas Pilipinas, one of the Philippines’ four gold medalists from the last Asian Games, has already concluded its campaign after finishing third in its group behind China and Bahrain and falling short of qualifying as one of the best-ranked third-place teams.

In volleyball, Alas Pilipinas Women have also been eliminated from contention after finishing third in their group. They have been relegated to the classification round.

The Philippine women’s national football team, Filipinas, opened its campaign with a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan before securing a 2-0 win over Hong Kong.

The U23 men’s team, meanwhile, opened its campaign with a 5-1 loss to Uzbekistan.

The women's soft tennis team, meanwhile, has been assured of at least a bronze medal in the Asian Games by qualifying for the semifinals.

Wushu was the Philippines' most bemedalled sport at the 2023 Asian Games, producing one silver and three bronze medals.

Arnel Mandal won silver in the men's sanda event, while Jones Inso, Gideon Padua, and Clemente Tabugara Jr. each took home bronze medals.

Jiu-jitsu produced the Philippines' most gold medals at the Games, with Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez winning gold in their respective events.

Kaila Napolis also won a bronze medal in jiu-jitsu.

The Philippine men's sepak takraw team won bronze medals in two events: the men's quadrant and men's regu.

The team was composed of Ronsited Gabayeron, Mark Joseph Gonzales, Jason Huerte, Rheyjey Ortouste, and Jom Lerry Rafael. Vince Torno was also part of the men's quadrant team.

Alex Eala won two bronze medals at the 2023 Asian Games, taking third place in women's singles and mixed doubles.

She partnered with Francis Casey Alcantara in the mixed doubles event.

The Philippines also won medals in athletics, basketball, boxing, cycling, karate, taekwondo, and weightlifting.

The Philippines won four golds, six silvers, and nine bronzes in the 2006 Asian Games, with boxers Violito Payla and Joan Tipon headlining the country’s gold medalists. Antonio Gabica of cue sports and Rene Catalan of wushu also won gold medals for the Philippines.

In 2010, bowler Engelberto Rivera, boxer Rey Saludar, and cue sports’ Dennis Orcollo won gold medals for the Philippines, which finished the Games with three golds, four silvers, and nine bronzes.

The Philippines bagged a total of 15 medals in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, with BMX racer Daniel Caluag winning the country’s lone gold medal.

In 2018, the Philippines had a star-studded haul at the Asian Games, with weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, golfer Yuka Saso and her teammates Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go, and skateboarder Margielyn Didal winning gold medals.

The Philippines finished with 21 medals, including four golds, two silvers, and 15 bronzes.

Delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 Asian Games were held in 2023. Gilas Pilipinas won the men’s basketball gold medal for the first time in more than 60 years, while pole vaulter EJ Obiena claimed his first Asian Games gold. Jiu-jitsu athletes Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez also won gold medals for the Philippines.

The country added two silver medals and 12 bronze medals.