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Category: Pinoy Sports Pulse

  • Yulo brothers lead Philippines’ gymnastics team in Asian Games campaign

    Yulo brothers lead Philippines’ gymnastics team in Asian Games campaign

    The Philippines is looking beyond individual medals as it assembles a men’s artistic gymnastics squad capable of competing on the biggest stages in the world.


    Carlos and Eldrew Yulo will headline the national team for the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, where the country’s campaign carries significance far beyond the continental meet. 

     

    According to Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion-Norton, the long-term objective is to build a team strong enough to qualify for the Olympic Games.

     

    The Yulo brothers have become the centerpiece of that vision following their historic showing at the 13th Senior Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships. Carlos captured the gold medal in the men’s floor exercise, while younger brother Eldrew earned the bronze in the same event, marking the first time Filipino siblings shared the podium in the continental championships.

     

    Carrion believes the younger Yulo has only begun to scratch the surface after making an impressive transition to the senior ranks.

     

    “We’re very, very proud of them. And they’re already qualified for the world, which is wonderful. They don’t have to go through all this other process. So now they can compete in the World Championship to qualify for the Olympics,” Carrion said.

     

    While Carlos has already established himself as one of the world’s premier artistic gymnasts, Carrion said the two-time Olympic gold medalist has embraced a bigger mission—helping elevate the entire Philippine program rather than focusing solely on his individual success.

     

    “For sure, he’s (Carlos) the one who wants it very badly. He wants it as a team. He says he wants us to come in as a team. And he wants us to be in the Olympics as a team. That’s why we have to make sure that our team is strong,” Carrion said.

     

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    That objective also explains why Carlos skipped the 33rd Southeast Asian Games last December after organizers implemented a rule allowing artistic gymnasts to win only one apparatus title. Instead, the country’s focus has shifted toward competitions that contribute to the broader Olympic qualification process.

     

    The Asian Games present another crucial step in that journey. Under the competition format, only five gymnasts are allowed per national team, making every roster spot vital as the Philippines attempts to secure one of the coveted team berths for the Olympic qualification pathway.

     

    “In these Asian Games, they’re only going to accept five Asian teams. I feel good that we can make it in one of the teams. And if you are one of the teams, then you go to the Olympics. Imagine to have a team for the Olympics with Carlos. Carlos also would like his people to be with him, even though they will be all around,” she added.

     

    Joining Carlos and Eldrew on the Philippine squad are Miguel Besana and Filipino-American Zachary Nunez, while the fifth and final roster spot remains undecided. Carrion-Norton revealed that the federation is still pursuing Troy Nuesca, but if that option does not materialize, Ace de Leon is expected to complete the lineup.

     

    The Philippine men’s artistic gymnastics team will compete from September 21 to 25 at the Rainbow Hall of the Nagoya City General Gymnasium, where the country’s rising generation of gymnasts hopes to take another significant step toward turning its Olympic team aspirations into reality.

     

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  • Alex Eala eyes another milestone as Wimbledon dream continues against Jasmine Paolini 

    Alex Eala eyes another milestone as Wimbledon dream continues against Jasmine Paolini 

    Alex Eala has already rewritten Philippine tennis history at Wimbledon. Now, she has the chance to push the country’s greatest Grand Slam run even further.

     

    Fresh off the biggest victory of her career, the 21-year-old Filipina will battle Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the Round of 16 on Monday (Philippine time), with a coveted quarterfinal berth on the line.

     

    Standing in Eala’s way is one of the tour’s most accomplished players, but it’s also an opponent she has already proven she can beat.

     

    Earlier this season, Eala stunned Paolini, 6-1, 7-6(5), in the Round of 32 of the Dubai Open, showcasing the fearless brand of tennis that has since become her trademark.

     

    That victory now serves as a reminder that Eala can match up with the world’s elite—even on the sport’s biggest stages.

     

    Confidence is certainly on the Filipina’s side after producing another career-defining performance in the third round, where she dethroned defending Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek in straight sets, 7-6(9), 6-2.

     

    The upset not only extended Eala’s best-ever Grand Slam campaign but also announced her as one of the tournament’s biggest breakthrough stories.

     

    Another victory would elevate her into even rarer company.

     

    No Filipino has reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam singles event since Felicisimo Ampon accomplished the feat at the 1953 French Championships more than seven decades ago.

     

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    But Paolini presents a challenge far different from the one Eala faced against Swiatek.

     

    The 30-year-old Italian has quietly built one of the most consistent résumés on tour over the past two seasons. A Paris Olympic doubles gold medalist in 2024, Paolini also reached the finals of both Wimbledon and the French Open that same year, proving her ability to thrive on both grass and clay.

     

    She booked her place in the fourth round with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over Greece’s Maria Sakkari after earlier wins against Robin Montgomery and Viktorija Golubic.

     

    Despite her pedigree, however, Paolini enters the match knowing Eala already owns the psychological edge from their only previous meeting.

     

    For Eala, the formula remains unchanged—play with the same aggressive mindset that carried her past one Grand Slam champion after another and continue embracing the moment rather than the magnitude of it.

     

    With history within reach once again, the Filipina will look to extend her remarkable Wimbledon run and move one step closer to becoming the first Filipino in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal.

     

    Awaiting the winner is a last-eight showdown against either Marta Kostyuk or Ashlyn Krueger.

     

     

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  • EJ Obiena rediscovers top form with back-to-back outdoor golds 

    EJ Obiena rediscovers top form with back-to-back outdoor golds 

    The Filipino pole vault star, EJ Obiena has rediscovered his winning rhythm, capturing his second consecutive gold medal after producing a season-best leap of 5.75 meters at the Raiffeisen Austrian Open in Eisenstadt, Austria.


    The victory came just days after Obiena topped the field at the Czeslaw Cybulski Memorial in Poznan, Poland with a 5.72-meter clearance, giving the two-time Olympian back-to-back titles for the first time in this year’s outdoor season.

     

    His latest triumph was anything but straightforward. Competing through windy conditions and a competition that stretched past 11 p.m., Obiena needed multiple attempts before finally clearing the winning height of 5.75 meters. 

     

    The mark not only secured the gold medal but also established a new stadium record in Eisenstadt.

     

    Obiena finished comfortably ahead of Great Britain’s Owen Heard and Czech Republic’s Dan Barta, who both settled for 5.55 meters.

     

    “After many, many, many runs and third attempts, we needed to call it a night after 11 p.m. Thank you very much for having (me),” Obiena wrote on social media.

     

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    The performance served as another encouraging sign that the Asian record holder is steadily rounding into form after an up-and-down outdoor campaign.

     

    Obiena opened the season by clearing 5.74 meters to finish runner-up at a meet in Germany before struggling to an eighth-place finish at the Diamond League in Doha, Qatar with a clearance of 5.42 meters. 

     

    He then improved to fourth at the FBK Games in the Netherlands after clearing 5.64 meters before breaking through with consecutive victories in Poland and Austria.

     

    His winning jump of 5.75 meters surpassed his previous outdoor season best and showed the consistency that had been missing during the early stages of the campaign.

     

    Just as significant was the manner in which he earned the victory. Obiena successfully negotiated pressure-filled third attempts at both 5.65 meters and 5.75 meters before deciding against chasing a higher bar after already securing first place, a decision made with an eye toward preserving his body for the competitions ahead.

     

    The result also strengthens Obiena’s preparations for a busy stretch on the European circuit. Following his triumph in Austria, the Filipino ace is scheduled to compete at the Fly Athens Street Pole Vault event in Greece as he continues building toward the major international championships later this season.

     

    With confidence growing and his performances trending upward, Obiena appears to be peaking at the right time. After navigating early-season setbacks, the Filipino Olympian has once again shown the form that has made him one of the world’s premier pole vaulters.

     

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  • Alex Eala earns long-awaited revenge against Maya Joint, reaches historic first Wimbledon third round 

    Alex Eala earns long-awaited revenge against Maya Joint, reaches historic first Wimbledon third round 

    Some victories mean more than a place in the next round.

     

    For Alex Eala, her second-round triumph at Wimbledon was about finishing unfinished business.

    More than a year after suffering one of the most painful defeats of her young career, the Filipina star finally turned the tables on Maya Joint, battling back for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory on Thursday to reach the third round of Wimbledon for the first time.

     

    It was a result that represented far more than another milestone in Eala’s breakthrough season. It closed the chapter on a loss that lingered long after the final point.

     

    The two rising stars last crossed paths in the unforgettable 2025 Eastbourne Open final, where Joint erased four championship points before denying Eala her first WTA title in a heartbreaking deciding-set tiebreak.

     

    That defeat stayed with Eala.

     

    “Yeah, so for those who don’t know we had an insane match last year and I lost. It hit me quite hard. I cried a lot. I don’t think I was able to watch those highlights for a couple of months. So I’m really happy,” Eala said.

     

    “I think I improved a lot in this past year. I’m happy I’m able to look back at that loss and I’m able to smile.”

     

    The rematch, however, initially looked destined to follow the same script.

     

    Joint entered the contest brimming with confidence after stunning seven-time Wimbledon singles champion Serena Williams in the opening round—her first appearance on Centre Court.

     

    She carried that momentum onto Court 12.

     

    The Australian immediately dictated the tempo, breaking Eala early before repeatedly forcing the Filipina onto the defensive with aggressive baseline play. Eala struggled to settle, spraying unforced errors as Joint comfortably claimed the opening set, 6-3.

     

    But unlike Eastbourne, Eala refused to let the match slip away.

     

    The No. 29 seed began extending rallies, moving Joint around the court and gradually wresting control from the baseline. A crucial service break in the third game of the second set shifted the momentum entirely before another break later in the frame allowed Eala to level the contest.

     

    By the time the deciding set began, the balance of power had completely changed.

     

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    Eala’s confidence grew with every point while Joint’s disappeared.

     

    The Filipina broke serve immediately before racing to a commanding lead, piling relentless pressure on the Australian with cleaner ball striking and superior court coverage.

     

    Joint never recovered.

     

    Eala swept through the final set without dropping a game, completing one of the most dominant stretches of tennis of her career and booking a historic place in the Wimbledon third round—the deepest Grand Slam singles run of her career.

     

    “I really had to dig deep. Especially after the first set. Maya came out on fire. She came out ready. I was expecting a really good match. We’ve competed in some very good conditions before so I was prepared for a good match,” Eala said.

     

    “She’s coming off an amazing win. I watched it and I think she played really well and handled herself really well in that situation. Congratulations to Maya.”

     

    The victory also continued Eala’s remarkable grass-court surge.

     

    Coming into Wimbledon, she had already announced herself as one of the tour’s hottest players after winning the WTA 125 Birmingham Open and reaching the semifinals of the WTA 500 Berlin Tennis Open, where she defeated Donna Vekic, World No. 8 Elina Svitolina, and World No. 2 Elena Rybakina.

     

    Now, another major challenge awaits.

     

    Standing between Eala and a place in the Wimbledon fourth round is defending champion and third seed Iga Swiatek.

     

    The two are no strangers.

     

    Eala famously stunned the former World No. 1 in straight sets during the 2025 Miami Open before Swiatek evened the rivalry with a three-set victory in Madrid just weeks later.

     

    With the score tied at one win apiece, their third meeting now comes with a place in the second week of Wimbledon on the line—a stage Eala has never reached but now finds herself one victory away from achieving.

     

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  • Siargao’s Cloud 9 breaks into WSL Championship Tour, marking historic Philippine surfing debut

    Siargao’s Cloud 9 breaks into WSL Championship Tour, marking historic Philippine surfing debut

    The Philippines is set to take its place on surfing’s biggest stage after the World Surf League (WSL) officially included Cloud 9 in Siargao in its Championship Tour for the 2026 and 2027 seasons as Stop no. 11.


    The upgrade marks the country’s shift from hosting a Qualifying Series event to becoming an elite stop on the global tour, with the Philippines Pro now standing as one of the most important milestones in the nation’s surfing history. 

     

    Presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippines Pro, is scheduled from October 31 to November 10 at the iconic Cloud 9 break, renowned for its powerful right-hand barrels and consistent swells that have long drawn international surfers, after being elevated from a World Surf League Qualifying Series (QS) 6,000 event to Championship Tour. 

     

    The upgrade to Championship Tour status also reflects schedule adjustments within the WSL season, ensuring at least 12 CT events are maintained amid uncertainties surrounding the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro.

     

    WSL chief executive officer Ryan Crosby emphasized that the inclusion of the Philippines is both a sporting and strategic milestone for the tour.

     

    “We’re excited to welcome the Philippines to the Tour thanks to the support of the Philippine Government,” WSL CEO Ryan Crosby said.

     

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    “Elevating Cloud 9 to CT status reflects both the quality of the wave and the strength of our partnership. It’s a deserving addition to the schedule that will challenge the world’s best surfers as the World Title race enters its final stages,” he added. 

     

    The Philippines Pro will feature a reduced postseason field of 24 men and 16 women, with ranking points critical in shaping qualification for the season-ending Pipe Masters in Hawaii. Local representation will also be guaranteed, with wildcard entries for one male and one female surfer to be determined through the Philippines Pro Championship Tour Trials at Cloud 9.

     

    The announcement has been welcomed by top-ranked surfers, including world No. 1 Leonardo Fioravanti of Italy, who sees the Philippine stop as a fresh challenge in a demanding tour schedule.

     

    “I’ve seen some footage of Cloud 9, and it looks like a really fun slab barrel into a big air. I’m super excited and cannot wait to go and get barreled at a new location,” Fioravanti said.

     

    For Philippine sports officials, the inclusion of Siargao represents more than just a calendar addition—it signals the country’s arrival as a legitimate surfing destination on the world stage.

     

    “This will be a historic moment for Philippine surfing and usher the sport into a new era,” PSC chair Gregorio said.

     

    Beyond Siargao, the WSL is also expanding its footprint in the country, announcing plans to stage a World Longboard Tour event in La Union in January 2027, further strengthening the Philippines’ role in global surfing competitions.

     

    With stops in Tahiti, Fiji, Portugal, the Philippines, Abu Dhabi, and finally Pipeline in Hawaii, the 2026 Championship Tour is shaping up to be one of the most globally diverse seasons in WSL history—with Siargao now firmly part of that elite journey.

     

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  • PTA showcases rising taekwondo talents as 2,000 Jins set for National Poomsae Championships 

    PTA showcases rising taekwondo talents as 2,000 Jins set for National Poomsae Championships 

    More than 2,000 taekwondo jins from across the Philippines are expected to converge at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on July 5 for the SMART/MVPSF National Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, a one-day tournament that serves as one of the Philippine Taekwondo Association’s (PTA) premier talent identification events.


    Led by Grandmaster Sung-Chon Hong, the association believes the annual meet will not only crown national champions but also uncover future members of the Philippine training pool as it continues its long-term program of building a sustainable pipeline of elite athletes.

     

    The timing of the competition comes on the heels of Team Philippines’ successful campaign in the recent Asian Taekwondo Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where the national squad collected 11 medals. 

     

    Ten of those medals came from poomsae events, highlighting the country’s continued strength in the discipline. The haul included two silver medals and nine bronze medals.

     

    Backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, SMART, MVPSF, and Milo, this year’s tournament will feature competition in two major divisions: Recognized Poomsae, consisting of individual, pair, and team events, and Freestyle Poomsae, which includes individual, mixed pair, and team competitions.

     

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    Several of the country’s most established clubs are expected to contend for top honors, including Central Gymnasium, Meta Taekwondo, and Discovery Pluz. 

     

    They will be challenged by powerhouse collegiate programs from Ateneo, Xavier School, University of Santo Tomas, the University of the Philippines Diliman, and De La Salle University.

     

    The tournament also brings together athletes representing the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and delegations from Pangasinan, Isabela, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, Leyte, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and General Santos, making it one of the largest national poomsae gatherings in recent years.

     

    Beyond the medals, the championships offer competitors an opportunity to showcase the precision, balance, power, and artistry that define poomsae—an event that continues to play a major role in the Philippines’ international success. 

     

    The PTA has consistently used the national championships as a platform to evaluate emerging talents who could eventually represent the country in Asian and world-level competitions.

    Competition is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., with hundreds of matches expected throughout the day as aspiring taekwondo jins vie for national honors and a chance to catch the attention of the national coaches.

     

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  • Alex Eala draws Maya Joint in Wimbledon second round 

    Alex Eala draws Maya Joint in Wimbledon second round 

    Alex Eala’s route at Wimbledon has suddenly become more familiar—and perhaps even more personal.

     

    Instead of a blockbuster second-round meeting with seven-time champion Serena Williams, the Filipina will now renew a budding rivalry with Australia’s Maya Joint after the young Aussie eliminated the American legend in three sets, 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-3, early Wednesday morning (Manila time).

     

    The result closed the curtain on Williams’ singles comeback at the All England Club after four years away from the WTA Tour, although the American icon is still expected to compete in the doubles draw alongside sister Venus Williams.

     

    For Eala, however, the focus now shifts to unfinished business.

     

    Joint was responsible for one of the most painful defeats of the Filipina’s breakout 2025 season, surviving a marathon encounter in the Eastbourne Open, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(10), in a match decided by the slimmest of margins.

     

    Now, just over a year later, Eala gets another opportunity to rewrite that chapter—this time on the sport’s biggest grass-court stage.

     

    The Australian enters the Round of 64 searching for momentum after a difficult first half of 2026. Joint climbed as high as world No. 28 during her rapid rise last season but has since slipped to No. 45 following inconsistent results.

     

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    Eala, meanwhile, arrives with growing confidence after cruising through her Wimbledon opener in straight sets against Mexico’s Renata Zarazua, collecting just her second career Grand Slam main-draw victory and her first at the All England Club.

     

    The rematch also carries major implications beyond simply reaching the third round.

     

    Should Eala overcome Joint, another marquee showdown could be waiting. Defending Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek is projected to stand in her path, provided the Polish star advances past former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova.

     

    A meeting with Swiatek would renew one of the tour’s newest emerging rivalries.

     

    The pair split their two meetings in 2025, with Eala producing one of the biggest wins of her young career by stunning Swiatek in Miami before the five-time Grand Slam champion responded with a victory in Madrid.

     

    While the dream matchup against Serena Williams will have to wait, Eala’s Wimbledon journey continues to offer no shortage of compelling storylines—with redemption against Joint and another potential clash with Swiatek now firmly in sight.

     

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    .

  • Philippine Muay Thai makes global statement with 32-medal haul at IFMA Muaythai World Championships 

    Philippine Muay Thai makes global statement with 32-medal haul at IFMA Muaythai World Championships 

    The Philippines proved it belongs among the world’s best in Muay Thai after producing a breakthrough performance at the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) Muaythai World Championships 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


    Competing against nearly 1,500 athletes representing five continents, the Philippine delegation collected 32 medals across Muaythai Combat, Wai Kru, and Mai Muay events during the June 16-26 tournament.

     

    The impressive haul was built through the combined efforts of the national junior and senior teams, with both squads making their presence felt on the international stage.

     

    Before the seniors stepped into the spotlight, the Philippine National Junior Muaythai Team, known as Team Bagsik, provided the early spark by collecting 19 medals composed of 11 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze.

     

    Athaliah Sarmiento emerged as one of the biggest highlights of the youth campaign after making history as the first Filipino athlete to capture three gold medals in a single IFMA World Championships. She ruled the U16 Female Division in Combat (36kg), Solo Wai Kru, and Duo Mai Muay.

     

    The junior gold medal haul was also powered by Salko Velic (Wai Kru), Antonia Elizabeth Lantaya (U18 42kg Combat), Risha Althea Amoguis (U18 Wai Kru), Royeth Rosa (U16 Wai Kru and U16 Mai Muay Duo), Ivan Nathan Buencasejo (U16 Mai Muay Duo), Dick Saking Jr. (U18 45kg Combat), Katnis Caasi (U16 Mai Muay), and Juan Miguel Delarmino (U10 Wai Kru).

     

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    The momentum created by Team Bagsik carried into the senior division, where the Philippine National Senior Muay Thai Team delivered a 13-medal performance highlighted by six gold medals, two silver medals, and five bronze medals to rank third overall.

     

    Filipino fighter Leo Pangsadan opened the senior gold medal tally after dominating the U24 45kg Muaythai Combat division. The national team also found success in technical events, with Jan Brix Ramiscal and Tyron Jamborillo winning Duo Mai Muay, while Islay Erika Bomogao claimed gold in Elite Wai Kru.

     

    The country added more gold through Xian Denis Robillos and Jasmine Dagame in U24 Duo Mai Muay, Kylie Mallari and Rhichein Yosorez in Elite Duo Mai Muay, and Ariel Lee Lampacan and Phillip Delarmino in Elite Mai Muay.

     

    The silver medals for the senior team came from Larstephen Canedo in U24 54kg Muaythai Combat and Samantha Audrey Ananias in U24 Wai Kru. Bronze medalists included Rudzma Abubakar, Tyron Jamborillo, Eunicka Kaye Costales, Pangsadan, and Kim Ryan Asense.

     

    Beyond the medal standings, the tournament also became a crucial stepping stone for the next generation of Filipino fighters. The athletes who earned podium finishes secured qualification opportunities for the upcoming IFMA Youth World Championships scheduled for November 2026.

     

    With the junior squad setting the tone and the seniors finishing among the world’s top nations, Philippine Muay Thai continues to strengthen its reputation as a rising force in international competition.

     

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  • Sydney Sy aims to become the first Filipino world champion in SAMBO

    Sydney Sy aims to become the first Filipino world champion in SAMBO

    The Philippines successfully staged the 2026 Asian and Oceania SAMBO Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila, from June 25 to 28, delivering one of the biggest SAMBO events ever held in Southeast Asia and underscoring the country’s growing role in the development of the sport in the region.

     

    The four-day continental championship gathered some of the best SAMBO practitioners from across Asia and Oceania, with athletes competing in both Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO divisions. Beyond the medal race, the tournament served as another milestone for Philippine SAMBO as the country continued to establish itself as a capable host of major international competitions while providing local athletes with valuable exposure against elite regional opposition.

     

    Among the tournament’s standout figures was Filipino SAMBO star Sydney Sy, who took on the rare challenge of wearing two hats throughout the competition. Aside from representing the Philippines on the competition mats, Sy also played a key role behind the scenes as one of the event organizers, helping oversee the successful staging of the prestigious championship.

     

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    Balancing administrative responsibilities with the physical and mental demands of competition proved to be one of the toughest challenges of her career, but one that she embraced wholeheartedly.

     

    “Organizing the competition while preparing to compete on the mat at the same time is no easy task. But I love what I do, and I’m proud of what we managed to achieve through all the preparation and planning. We managed to pull off this major competition, and that makes me very happy,” Sy said in a media interaction.

     

    While Sy’s efforts extended beyond the competition area, it was the Philippine women’s team that stole the spotlight in the Combat SAMBO division.

     

    The Filipinas captured three gold medals to propel the country to a runner-up finish in the Combat SAMBO team standings, highlighting the steady progress of the national program. Aumaegel Princess Cortez, Jomary Torres, and Aislinn Agnes Yap each delivered gold medal performances, showcasing the depth of Filipino talent and reinforcing the country’s emergence as a rising force in the discipline.

     

    Their victories reflected years of development within the local SAMBO community and demonstrated that the next generation of Filipino athletes is ready to compete—and win—on the continental stage.

    For Sy, watching her teammates succeed was just as rewarding as her own accomplishments.

    Widely regarded as the “Queen of Asian SAMBO” in the Philippines because of her impressive achievements in both local and international competitions, Sy has become one of the sport’s most recognizable ambassadors in the country. Her continued success has helped introduce SAMBO to a broader audience while inspiring a new generation of Filipino athletes to take up the martial art.

     

    “I’m proud that I was able to represent the Philippines on the Asian-Oceanian stage. If my example inspires even one child, that already means a lot to me. When kids see Filipino athletes winning at major events, more and more of our boys and girls want to try SAMBO for themselves,” she added.

     

    Although Sy narrowly missed out on capturing the gold medal at the Asian and Oceania Championships, the tournament still marked another major milestone in her already decorated career.

     

    Following the competition, Sy climbed to world No. 1 in the International Sambo Federation (FIAS) Women’s +80kg world rankings, becoming the highest-ranked athlete in her division and further cementing her status as one of the sport’s elite competitors.

     

    The achievement is a testament to years of consistent performances on the international circuit, where Sy has steadily collected medals and ranking points against some of the world’s top SAMBO practitioners.

     

    However, despite reaching the pinnacle of the world rankings, Sy insists that her journey is far from over.

     

    Her ultimate ambition remains unchanged—to become the first Filipino athlete to win a world championship in SAMBO, a feat that would further elevate the country’s standing in the international martial arts community.

     

    “My personal mission is still not accomplished – I want to become world champion. I’m still on that path, and I will get there. I will keep working hard to become the first Filipino world champion in SAMBO,” Sy concluded.

     

    As Philippine SAMBO continues to gain momentum through successful international hosting duties and increasingly competitive performances on the continental stage, athletes like Sy remain at the forefront of the sport’s growth. With a new generation of champions emerging alongside an established world No. 1 leading the way, the future appears bright for SAMBO in the Philippines as it continues its pursuit of even greater success on the global stage.

     

     

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  • Alex Eala wastes no time, powers into Wimbledon second round 

    Alex Eala wastes no time, powers into Wimbledon second round 

    Alex Eala made sure her Wimbledon debut as a seeded player came with a statement.

     

    Carrying the weight of history as the first Filipina to enter the main draw of the All England Club with a seed beside her name, Eala showed exactly why she earned that status, dismantling Mexico’s Renata Zarazua, 6-1, 6-2, to book her place in the second round of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships on Wednesday.

     

    Rather than easing into the tournament, the world No. 32 immediately dictated the pace. Eala opened the match with a love hold before steadily taking complete control, leaving Zarazua with little room to settle into any rhythm.

     

    After the Mexican held serve once early in the opening set, the Filipina took over.

     

    Eala ripped off five straight games, mixing aggressive baseline play with steady serving to wrap up the first set in just 31 minutes.

     

    The momentum never shifted.

     

    She broke Zarazua to open the second frame and quickly stretched the lead to 5-1, putting herself one game away from another milestone victory. Though Zarazua delayed the finish by holding serve once more, Eala stayed composed and closed out the match in straight sets to complete one of her most convincing performances on a Grand Slam stage.

     

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    The victory also carried a measure of redemption.

     

    Two years ago, Zarazua handed Eala a three-set defeat at the 2024 ITF Cary Tennis Classic, the only meeting between the two before Wimbledon. Since then, their paths have crossed in a different way, with the pair even teaming up in doubles at the 2025 French Open and advancing to the second round.

     

    This time, however, Eala left no doubt.

     

    The triumph marked only the second Grand Slam singles victory of her young career after her breakthrough first-round win over Clara Tauson at last year’s US Open, while also giving the Filipina another confidence boost heading deeper into one of tennis’ biggest tournaments.

    Now, an even bigger opportunity awaits.

     

    Eala advances to the Round of 64, where she will face Australia’s Maya Joint for a place in the third round. 

     

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