Team Philippines ‘dreams big,’ targets 8 golds in Asian Games 2026

Members of Team Philippines with Philippine Sports executives during the official send-off for the Asian Games 2026. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Team Philippines is targeting at least eight gold medals at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, which officially opens September 19.

The Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission are confident that this year’s delegation could double the previous four-gold medal finishes in the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang and 2022 Hangzhou editions.

“We’re all dreaming anyway, so let’s dream big and make it eight. Why eight? Break it down: four from Palembang and four from Hangzhou. Of those eight, let’s have a minimum of four from combat sports and four from non-combat sports,” said POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino during the sendoff on Thursday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Tolentino believes jiu-jitsu, boxing, taekwondo, wushu and mixed martial arts have strong chances of winning gold in combat sports.

READ: PH boxing team eyes end to 16-year Asian Games gold drought

Gymnastics, led by two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo and his brother Eldrew, tennis star Alex Eala, athletics, esports and skateboarding are also among the country’s gold-medal hopefuls.

“I’m not putting pressure on you. We’re not putting pressure on you. Just give everything you have,” said Tolentino.

PSC chairman Pato Gregorio and POC president Bambol Tolentino during the official send-off for the Asian Games 2026. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“Another thing we’re talking about is the Asian Games. We want to bid for the Asian Games. The Philippines hosted the first Asian Games in Manila in 1954, and we haven’t hosted it again since. The only available slot is 2039. By 2039, all of you will probably be retired or no longer competing. It will be the young athletes that the PSC and POC are developing today who will be playing”

“We shouldn’t waste this opportunity because it will become much harder later on. This is about making history. This is our time. This is your time,” he added.

READ: Ian Delos Santos, Aira Villegas named PH flag bearers for Asian Games

PSC chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio also announced an additional P6,000 allowance for each athlete and coach competing in the Asian Games and Asian Para Games.

He is also pushing for a cash bonus for the entire delegation if Team Philippines surpasses the previous four gold medals at the Asian Games and 10 golds at the Asian Para Games.

“If you surpass the four gold medals we won, and Para surpasses 10 gold medals, I’ll personally appeal to the PSC commissioners for an additional reward for the entire delegation,” Gregorio said.

“Let’s face it—we’ve been studying and preparing for this for a long time. And when it comes to strategizing, I really admire President Bambol and the way he plans things out. I know we can do it. Everyone we’re sending to the Asian Games has a chance to win gold. Everyone has a chance to win a medal because these are already elite athletes. We’re more than capable of doing this,” he added.

Tolentino also named Olympic bronze medalist boxer Aira Villegas and young weightlifter Ian Delos Santos as flag bearers.

Basketball opens the action for Team Philippines in Japan, with Gilas Pilipinas playing its first game on Friday.