Asian Games gold medalist Jeus Yape will have another moment in the spotlight when he leads Team Philippines as flag bearer during Sunday’s closing ceremony of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said Yape is a fitting choice for the honor following his historic performance in taekwondo.
“He’s deserving of that honor,” Tolentino said Saturday, a day before the ceremony scheduled for 5:00 PM (Manila time) at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium — the same venue that hosted the Games’ opening ceremony two weeks ago.
Tolentino said Yape’s achievement carries significance beyond the individual athlete, particularly for Philippine taekwondo.
“It will be a recognition not only for Jeus but also for taekwondo, which finally won its first Asian Games gold medal since 1994, when the sport became a medal event in the Games,” he said.
Yape made history last Friday by ruling the mixed virtual taekwondo competition, an open-gender event that blends traditional combat sports with virtual reality and motion-tracking technology.
His victory helped the Philippine taekwondo team finish the Games with one gold, three silver, and one bronze medal — the country’s best-ever haul in the sport at the Asian Games. Yape also secured a bronze medal in the men’s individual poomsae event.
Joining Yape at the closing ceremony will be fellow medalists Juliana Mykhail Candelaria, Tachiana Keizha Mangin, Kurt Barbosa, and boxer Carlo Paalam.
Yape’s selection comes after Paris Olympics bronze medalist Aira Villegas and world junior weightlifting champion Albert Ian de los Santos carried the Philippine flag during the opening ceremony on September 19.
