The Philippines Secured Their First Asian Games Soft Tennis Medal a Day Before the Opening Ceremony
Bien Zoleta, Christy Sanosa and Princess Catindig beat Thailand two one in Group B and now face Japan in Sunday's semi-final in Nagoya.
The Philippines were guaranteed their first Asian Games medal in soft tennis on 18 September 2026, when the women's team reached the semi-finals at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Nagoya, a day before the Games were formally opened.
Princess Catindig, Bien Zoleta, Christy Sanosa, Shyryn Salazar and Hilary Paas beat Mongolia 3-0, beat Thailand 2-1 and lost 3-0 to Chinese Taipei to finish second in Group B.
Soft tennis has no third-place play-off, so both beaten semi-finalists take bronze. The Philippines face Japan, who topped Group A with a 3-0 record and are the reigning champions, in the semi-final on 20 September.
Soft tennis, played with a soft rubber ball, was a demonstration sport at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing and became a medal sport at Hiroshima in 1994. The Philippines had never won a medal in it.
South Korea were also assured of two bronzes, in the men's and women's team events, and meet Chinese Taipei in both semi-finals. Korea have taken gold at every edition since 1994 and lead the all-time soft tennis table with 26 golds, 15 silvers and 20 bronzes.