The Philippines is building toward the Nagoya Aichi Asian Games with a growing delegation—and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino believes the country can do better than Hangzhou.
Four taekwondo slots have been added to the Philippine contingent for the 20th Asian Games, set for September 19 to October 4 in Nagoya and Aichi, Japan—two each in poomsae and kyorugi, plus one slot in para taekwondo allocated by the Japanese host cities. The additions bolster a delegation already projected to exceed 700 athletes and deepen the Philippines’ medal prospects in a discipline that can deliver across multiple weight classes and disciplines.
Tolentino is confident the country can surpass the four-gold, two-silver, and 12-bronze medal haul from Hangzhou 2022—though he acknowledged the competition has never been harder.
“Competition at the Asian Games has already become that high level and elite so winning medals are close to the degree of difficulty in the Olympics,” he said.
Familiar Names to Lead Philippine Contingent in Asian Games
The flag bearers of the Philippine campaign are well established. Paris 2024 gymnastics double gold medalist Carlos Yulo and reigning pole vault champion and record holder EJ Obiena lead a delegation built around proven performers. The men’s 5×5 basketball team—which famously reclaimed the Asian Games gold under coach Tim Cone in Hangzhou, to the visible disappointment of the Chinese hosts and former NBA star Yao Ming—will once again carry enormous expectations and national pride.
The most recent addition to the excitement is the qualification of both the men’s and women’s indoor volleyball teams, which triggered fresh enthusiasm in the national volleyball community and potentially adds another medal-contending sport to the Philippine program—that is, if the Philippine National Volleyball Federation can form and send powerhouse lineups.
Nagoya is still months away. The delegation is not yet complete. But the pieces are coming together—and Tolentino, for one, likes what he sees.
